Labels: Bombed Out Records
Review by: Mike Whelan
I’ve been sitting on this CD (so to speak) for a little while now, and it surprised, nay, it *outraged* me to see a review of it in Kerrang the other day (I usually sneak a peek at it in my lunch break at the local WHSmiths, though I have to almost fight myself through a crowd of other misers to do so.) Not to be outdone, I raced home, and sat down to bash out this review.
I’m confused as to how a band from Sweden managed to get someone from Leeds based label, Bombed Out, to hear them “” but at the same time, I’m glad they did.
And I’m glad because this seven-track mini-album is very good. From the explosive opener “The Competition,’ through melodic sing-a-long “Endings,’ all the way to discordant closer “New,’ it oozes quality. Other reviews and comments I’ve read compare the sound to bands like Fireside or Starmarket; but this is a little bit lazy given that all of these bands are Swedish “” and this is where the comparisons stem from, I would say the sound owes more to Jawbox or even Hot Water Music.
But what really sets Kelly 8 apart from these hardcore/emo crossover bands are the vocals. Pia Hoberg is an amazing singer, she can sing quietly, she can sing loudly, she can scream with the screamiest of them and it always manages to sound tight and controlled. All of the songs are good “” there’s not one filler among the seven tracks, and it’s just the sort of music I like, hardcore with a mellow influence.
I’d highly recommend this album to anyone, it arrived just too late to make it into my years’ top 10, but no doubt it’ll feature in next years. Just get it “” you won’t be disappointed.