SomeKindaWonderful's music doesn't really fit it into the mold of other types of songs that seem to be enjoying the most popularity on the internet these days. Their debut single, "Reverse", is a juggernaut of a track, but the vocals and blues-infused guitar are the antitheses of the tropical, artsy tunes that have been dominating a lot of blogs lately. Instead of such shiny melodies and muted production work, SKW has gone all in on the type of indie-pop that employs a darker aesthetic, complete with a sound that demands comparisons with much harder styles of rock music. Fortunately, they've also made sure that their debut self-titled album is filled with quality songs, so even if they've flown under your radar thus far, there's really no excuse to not join the SKW team (or "Butterfly Militia", as the band likes to call it) now that you've heard their stuff. Throughout the project of theirs, your ears are greeted with a variety of sound combinations that range from crunchy, synth-drven pop anthems, to brooding rock numbers that use both analog and electronic instrumentation to build a sense of grandeur that's hard to compete with. Each song has its own set of fingerprints, but there are two common threads that run through every piece. The first one is vocalist Jordy Towers' formidable (and very distinct) voice, and the second is SKW's knack for folding in big, open sections of sound where the music gets to breathe freely and make a big impression on the listener. At times, the album feels like it could easily serve as the score to some sort of cinematic epic, and with each track, they seem to build upon that sense of ceremony with a finesse that makes the listening experience feel quite special. The album is made up of twelve tracks, and there are quite a few to choose from if you're looking for good music (heck, all twelve will probably fit the bill), but even amongst this very formidable lineup, there are a few that stand out for their originality and awesome production work. Coincidentally, the first one on our list of notables is the very first track on the album's list, "Cornbread". It's extremely bluesy, and definitely not what you'd assume would be a Hillydilly top pick, but it's a distortion pedal-fueled banger, and even if you're not a rock or blues fan, the track will have no problem changing your mind. Next up on the list is "Caveman". It's a complete departure from "Cornbread", but, as mentioned before, you'll never have to complain about continuity issues, because those magical vocals are still there, and they're still making the music the same way. This time, however, they're getting it done with synths and echoey guitar notes instead of the gritty instrumentation that you heard before, but it's still 100% SKW, and it would be tough to mistake it for something else. Moving on through the rest of the album, you'll find a whole handful of songs that could have easily worked as the album's lead single, and it's quite staggering how much creativity they managed to pack in here. It would seem that the old adage "quality over quantity" doesn't really apply here, because a twelve-track playlist is nothing to shake a stick at, and it would be a daunting task, too, to try to figure out which songs are weaker than the rest. "Amaretto" is a slow rock ballad with string sections opening the song's exciting sense of space, and, thoroughly modern in its execution, it's a blast to listen to, becoming even more impressive when you compare it to the next song, "Devilish Man". "Devilish Man" feels more like vintage Southern rock, and it really shows off SKW's range. "In Chains" (track eleven) brings back some of the classic expansiveness in "Amaretto", but it's also fused with the harder-hitting sounds of "Caveman", and the end result is a song that is both inspiring and masterfully composed. Unlike most albums, there's really no filler music here within SKW's work, so it would be easy to miss out on a few gems if you start listening with the assumption that it's only downhill after "Reverse". Give each track your full attention, and you'll be rewarded with an album that's got what it takes to impress even the most demanding of music junkies, while still retaining massive curb appeal for those just wanting to get their feet wet. Purchase the album on iTunes now, or head on over to SoundCloud to stream the entire body of work. UPDATE: If you live in Los Angeles, you can check SKW out at Bootleg HiFi TONIGHT! Our last show with them on the 12th SOLD OUT, so don't miss this one! Tickets are still available.
SomeKindaWonderful