Pinback

I did something a few weeks ago that I haven't done for years. I heard one song from a band, liked it, and then went out and bought the cd. It's not the buying part that was different, haha....it was the fact that I had only really ever heard one tune from this band. I get the feeling that back in the 90's that was pretty much how everyone bought CD's. "Oh, I like this song....I'll get the CD." It's amazing that even in my short life the music industry and how people buy music has changed so drastically.

Pinback, hailing from San Diego, got me hooked with their song 'Good to Sea'. I then picked up their Autumn of the Seraphs disc at some local record shop in Atlanta. When I popped it into the car, I was half-expecting all crappy songs except for the one I heard (just like the old days), but I was pleasantly surprised. Pinback has a bit of a 'mathy' feel to them (see Minus the Bear or Gatsby's American Dream), meaning that they sound very technical and keep things in very distinct time signatures.

'Good to Sea' is a very simple song. Listen to it and try not to get it stuck in your head...especially the little backup-vocal 'echos'. 'Barnes' brings out the technical, mathy side to Pinback with intertwining bass and guitar lines to kick the song off. It then collapses into a breezy pop riff before returning to the previously heard strict bass line. The last tune 'Subbing for Eden' is the most indie-oriented of the three. You can hear hints of Elliot Smith in the muted vocals, but the marching cadence of the bass keeps you really thinking Pinback. Let me know if you dig it!

Pinback - Good to Sea

Pinback - Barnes

Pinback - Subbing for Eden