GENRE | INDIE-HYPHEN-POP
VERDICT | FACEBOOK “LIKE”
LABEL | SELF-RELEASED
RELEASE | 11.5.11
AGERINGS1.BANDCAMP.COM
Here’s one—Hipster walks into a conversation about ’80s alternative. “Hey. What’s your favorite Pixies song?” “‘Smells Like Teen Spirit.’” Hipster explodes in a burst of irony and smirk.
To say that Age Rings sound kind of Pixies-ish is the same as saying that any modern free-floating agent of syncopated tones-production—that have listened to music … ever—sound like them.
However, it is to say that the tracks on Black Honey do often sound like, well, a bunch of those other modern free-floating tune-agents. Opener “Rock and Roll is Dead” props up a sarcastic post-rock rant with a pounding chorus and delicate noodling that rubs sound-shoulders with thrashin’ chords, and the title track adds a low-key outlaw country vibe into the mix.
Much of the album comes off as too mellow and smooth. Certainly enjoyable, if you can throw yourself into standard indie-something done well.
TED BILLINGS OF AGE RINGS PLAYS PA’S LOUNGE SAT 1.14.11