|
|
Kind
of Like Spitting
|
|
Singer and songwriter Ben Barnett is the base of Kind of Like Spitting, and such a talented and prolific individual that, while he may not have the best luck available, he certainly manages to create some of the most overwhelmingly powerful songs of love and torture imaginable-again and again and again. He seems to write songs in the way that you breathe-consistently, constantly, and as a necessity-pouring albums from his mouth, head, and hands multiple times a year, each one as essential and moving as the next.
Barnett's songs can rotate between somber, solemn solo pieces, explosive, full-band rock or pop, and songs with his talented friends bringing in other instruments to highlight or create a mood. Between all styles handled by Kind of Like Spitting, though, lies the solid punk ethic and influence and an ability for immense lyrical depth and directness held by truly few.
Within the
last couple years, Barnett has uncharacteristically stored his songs,
allowing them to gradually gestate, change, and move into and out
of each other until two completely different, full albums beautifully
came together out of the pool: In the Red (Hush Records) and The
Thrill of the Hunt. These years have taken him all over the country
for stretches here and there, and the recordings reflect it: sessions
that provided tracks for both albums included Seattle’s Hall
of Justice with Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie, Decemberists,
Hot Hot Heat, TOTH #2, 4, 7, 8, 10); Providence, RI, work with
Dave Auchenbach (Lightning Bolt, Wheat, TOTH #9, 12); Louisiana
and North Carolina studio time (TOTH #7); and Portland, OR, self-recorded
basement material that could never be as engagingly reproduced as
during the first heated night it was tracked (TOTH #3, 6). The record
also features, in its title track, the first lead vocal from longtime
Kind of Like Spitting guitarist/background vocalist, David J. (also
of Novi Split), and three highlights from Redder’s long-running
Kind of Like Spitting internet cover song series. The thirteen TOTH
songs, some of which morphed from session to session, were all brought
back together into their natural whole by Barnett and Auchenbach
in a marathon mixing/tweaking/recording period, resulting in the
wonderful piece of pared-down art reminiscent of the air of KOLS
fan-favorite You Secretly Want Me Dead. >>>
Reviews (pending) <<< BACK TO REDDER CATALOG |