Kitten Forever
Pressure
Guilt Ridden Pop (2013)
Pressure is a party. The three-piece band Kitten Forever trade off vocals constantly throughout, and even swap instruments while they’re at it. It starts off with a 43 second intro track of vocal switcheroos and handclaps before shifting into the muddy “Cry Baby” that sets the stage well for their alternating tones of distorted punk and happy-clap sing-song. While the name conjures the cute and cuddly and the tone is positive and peppy, there’s also a serious undertone to their work.Kitten Forever don’t hide their influences, and the 1990s Northwest scene from Kill Rock Stars to riot grrrl to glory days Sub Pop are all discernible in their music. The bass and drums and distorted and muddy, bringing Nirvana’s Bleach to mind and the positively charged vocal call and response that repeats throughout the album is similar to the method employed on the new The Julie Ruin record. While such influences play a role, the band finds itself in quick structures that bang out those punchy call and response parts, and then settles into a melody that fits the early peppy beat while alternately hitting on a new and separate flow. It’s a complicated cohesion, but it all pulls together … Read more
Gypsy Eyes
The Escapist
Noise Met Sound (2013)
It’s hard to go to an EDM festival without seizuring from strobe lights, going deaf from pulsing beats, or popping … Read more
A Wilhelm Scream
Partycrasher
No Idea Records (2013)
It’s been hard to believe that A Wilhelm Scream’s last full length, Career Suicide, was released in 2007. I’ve seen … Read more
