ROB'S ALBUM OF THE WEEK: SPIRIT KID'S - IS HAPPENING

Rob Duguay

With rhythms and grooves that’ll remind you of 70’s greats Elvis Costello & Fleetwood Mac, Boston’s Spirit Kid are an infectious act that are guaranteed to make you become a human pogo stick after the first note. With a vintage style indie-pop sound, the band’s second album Is Happening is chock full of pristine quality with each track knocking you off your feet. Emeen Zarookian retains his status as one of Beantown’s best songwriters while not being afraid to mix things up with rocking riffs and emphatic downbeats. The innovation and originality of Spirit Kid’s new album makes for a nice treasure from a legendary music scene that has been experiencing a spectacular resurgence of rock & roll for the past few years.

Along with the obvious classic influences, Spirit Kid’s Is Happening brings an interesting mix of Wilco-esque rock chords and psychedelia that mirrors Portugal. The Man. There’s a contemporary sheen all over the album that has the ability to shine through anyone’s ears. Co-produced with fellow Boston musician Jeremy Mendicino from Pretty & Nice, everything on the album flows through the mind like a smooth coastal wave. It’s a lovely experience when you press play on this magnificent piece of music, putting you in a trance that you have no choice but to bask in and enjoy. Buy the ticket and take the ride, because Spirit Kid is bound to take you on a wonderful rhythmic voyage.

Enjoying 2014 so far? With all of the fantastic albums that are due to come out in the next few months, I guarantee the music will get you pumped for what’s to be released until the next bottle of champagne pops on New Year’s Eve. What better way to get revved up and ready to rock than with my top tracks off of my Album Of The Week? Giving you a preview of the greatness that you can’t help but hear, you won’t be able to resist picking up a copy and blasting it through your speakers. Ok, maybe that was a tad pompous. Anyways and always, here goes something:

Rushing through the same vein as Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, “Making Excuses” has the power and energy to send shocks up your spine. A wonderful contradiction of sorts, “Slow It Down” is a lightning fast song that rambles and roars from start to finish. A bluesy & jangling number in “Everything Is Old” retains Spirit Kid’s trademark pop aesthetic while bringing out the essence of The Beatles’ Rubber Soul to please the nostalgics. I like the grooves and Emeen’s lo-fi vocals out of “You Know She Would”, but what really makes it is the tingling guitar solos that will make your eyes bulge with excitement. I only can choose a few, but don’t let that lead you astray. Spirit Kid’s Is Happening is a great example of how an album can put you in a state of bliss no matter which track you choose.

Spirit Kid’s next show will be at Glasslands Gallery in Brooklyn on January 26th but you can definitely look forward to the album release show for Is Happening sometime next month in the Boston area. Hopefully soon Emeen & The Boys will venture down to rock the roof off of Providence before the end of the year as well. Until Spirit Kid ignites your friendly neighborhood music venue, grab a copy of their new album Is Happening. It’s going to rock your world and you’re going to love it.

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