Inchworm's latest shows maturity, diversity
Inchworm, "Sheep in Wolf's Clothing" (self-released),
The third release by Chicago's Inchworm, "Sheep" contains six mature roots pop tunes that sit as comfortably among classic rock staples The Band and The Rolling Stones as with any of today's country-tinged indie rockers. The quintet truly covers all the bases here, even evoking "Summerteeth"-era Wilco with the winsome synth infusion of "Learn to Grift," which ain't a bad thing.
The saloon piano of "Greenhouse Grown" and twangy shuffle of "You I Aim For" contribute a comfy sense of nostalgia, while opener "Simple Days Without Money" is a jangle pop gem that could have come from any era. The EP closes with two slow burners, "Waltz Through the Ashes" teeming with heartland despair and "Silent Observers" unfurling with languid, rustic vocal harmonies. With not a bum track in the mix, Inchworm has honed its craft here into a confident, timeless identity that should earn them fans of all ages.
Inchworm performs a CD release show with Swell, Sleep With the Fishes and Jerry Andriano at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, at Darkroom, 2210 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago. $8 advance, $10 door. (773) 276-1411.
Brighton MA, "Amateur Lovers" (Loose Tooth),
Often delicate but never fey, Chicagoans Brighton MA return one year after a lauded debut EP, sporting a full-length sure to please patient indie rock adherents.
The group's emotional chamber pop springs from the mind of Matt Kerstein, formerly of The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, a singer/guitarist whose unaffected voice recalls laconic Tom Petty and bedazzled Perry Farrell at once. "Lovers" provides evidence that Brighton MA (named for the town where Kerstein was born) has meshed as a unit, as Kerstein shares songwriting credit for the disc's three moodiest tracks with multi-instrumental bandmate Jim Tuerk.
The CD booklet credits the quartet and guests with various horns, keys and percussion along with "space echo violins," "radiators" and "dropping things." This battalion of sounds converges with eloquent grace on pastorale opener "Let's Be Friends Again" and the cinematic build of the title track. The pace picks up with the rocking "Sunblinded" and the dynamic duo of "Hold On" and "Underground," both of which manage to reconcile glam, folk and space rock. Still, the overall tone here is of stately insistence, and that lack of haste, combined with an unfortunately subdued sound mix, means "Lovers" will take some listeners a few spins to sink in. The attention is worth the time.
Brighton MA performs a CD release show with Catfish Haven, The Record Low and Rego at 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., Chicago. $10. (773) 549-4140.
Forever The Sickest Kids, "Underdog Alma Mater" (Universal)
The latest in the line of generic emo-pop bands with unwieldy monikers (Cute Is What We Aim For, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, etc), Forever The Sickest Kids present guitar-driven synth-pop along the lines of Boys Like Girls or the Plain White T's, bringing absolutely nothing new to the table.
So why is "Underdog Alma Mater" so hard to put down?
The production is a typical Matt Squire pop fiasco - while his work with hardcore and experimental bands has been nothing short of brilliant at times, when the man is given a pop group to work with, it saps everything organic out. The gang vocals are contrived, the harmonies are blatantly synthesized, and vocal processing and drum programming are far too abundant.
But something about Forever The Sickest Kids manages to move beyond their atrocious name and insipid production. The first single, "Whoa Oh! (Me Vs. Everyone)" is a typical teen-angst-with-hooks pop song, but the chorus is absolutely infectious - and not in an obnoxious way.
"Believe Me, I'm Lying" boasts a monster hook as well, even if the verses get a tad annoying
But catchy songs alone can't make an album good. In fact, this isn't a particularly good album. It's fun, loud, stays in your head, and these kids clearly have a knack for writing a pop song, but plenty of bands can provide that. What this band is, first and foremost, is endearing.
You find yourself wanting to like them, despite all they've got going against them. You find yourself rooting for them through the rough spots (of which there are plenty) and singing along through the good spots (of which there are also plenty).
And in an era where bands like this are a dime a dozen, it's good to be endearing. Who knows if they'll stick around, but if they can saddle up with a better producer and really work on sculpting their currently unremarkable sound into something a bit more unique, things could get very interesting.
Forever the Sickest Kids performs with Cobra Starship, Hit the Lights and Sing It Loud at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, at House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn Ave., Chicago. $15 advance, $17 door. (312) 923-2000.