Review / 200 Words Or Less
Kississippi
Sunset Blush

Alcopop! Records (2018) Kristen Swanson

Kississippi – Sunset Blush cover artwork
Kississippi – Sunset Blush — Alcopop! Records, 2018

Philly duo Kississippi released their anticipated debut album Sunset Blush and unlike some records, it lived up to the hype. The album starts off with the song “Once Good,” perfectly blending elements of indie and folk with Zoë Reynolds’ voice beautifully texturing the track. “Cut Yr Teeth” is a sonically dreamy track complete with stellar lyrics. Reynolds is mesmerizing as the vocalist of the band—despite having a distinct sound, it’s hard to pinpoint her tone which adds another depth of dimension to the album as a whole. 

“Easier to Love” competes with the top mainstream pop tracks, but lyrically and vocally stand stronger than standard radio music while remaining undeniably catchy. “Mirror Kisser” delivers electropop vibes while “Shamer” perfects the art of simplicity. Similarly with “Who Said It First,” the tempo of the song showcases Reynolds' range along with the music as a whole. Kississippi explores different music styles not just within the album’s entirety, but sometimes within the same track—it’s fresh and inspiring. For a debut album, the band has managed to accomplish and pull off what some seasoned bands are still striving to achieve. 

Kississippi – Sunset Blush cover artwork
Kississippi – Sunset Blush — Alcopop! Records, 2018

Related news

Kississippi and Alex G members present Puppy Angst

Posted in Records on September 4, 2022

News outta Kississippi

Posted in Bands on October 8, 2020

Recently-posted album reviews

The Library Is On Fire

Degeneration Elegies
The Abyss, Ltd. (2026)

There’s a certain kind of band that never quite fits the moment they arrive in. Sometimes too jagged for one scene, too melodic for another. The Library Is On Fire were one of those bands in the early 2000s, hovering somewhere between indie-punk urgency and power-pop instinct without fully settling into either. On Degeneration Elegies, their first full-length in over … Read more

Nicole Alexis

Mirrors & Smoke
Independent (2026)

There’s a fine line between stripped down music and so stripped back that is sounds empty. On Mirrors and Smoke, Nicole Alexis lands comfortably on the right side of that line, delivering a debut EP that leans into simplicity without losing its emotional weight. Built around acoustic arrangements and minimal production, the EP feels intentionally close. It feels like these … Read more

The Remote Controls

Too Tough
Fail Harmonic Records, Mom’s Basement Records (2025)

There’s a certain kind of punk band that doesn’t overthink things. No reinvention, no genre-bending manifesto, just fast songs, big hooks, and enough attitude to carry it all. Indianapolis’ The Remote Controls lean hard into that tradition on Too Tough, a record that feels less like a statement and more like a well-earned victory lap. Built on a steady diet … Read more