Song Force Crystal

Driven by their own youthful robustness, the men of Church have endowed their full-length debut with the awesome zeal and energy of an entire herd of bison charging the gates of Sparta. Two powerful drummers offer the pounding of the hooves, beating out rhythms to make the gods dance. Vintage synthesizers and tasteful sampling provide the beasts' otherworldly battle cries. Driven by gravity-defying guitar riffs, their palpable passions and ideals fly through the atmosphere, pulled by chariots of haunting poetry and soul-melting vocals. With a note from the melodica, the beasts sprout enormous wings from their tangled hides, soaring over the gates of the city and conquering everything in their path. You should probably buy this album.

Listening to this album reminded me of my favorite parts of the early Grizzly Bear and Fleet Foxes albums, and even a little bit of classic Beach Boys. The vocal harmonies really stick out, and the instrumentation is really unique. Exploding guitars, crackling keyboards, and cavernous drums. Strange atmospheric noises, electronic experimentation. It's all here! Take a listen!

I stumbled across this Portland band when they played live here in Fayetteville AR, a couple months ago and have been waiting for the album they promised was coming ever since. Live they were one of the best bands I have EVER seen. Their album certainly does not dissapoint either. It is a deep listening experience, if that makes any sense. It gets better every time. Lots of pretty noises over solid songs. Perfect vocal harmonies. Intense poly-rhythmic drums... The last minute of Golden Girls is mindblowing. I'm not just saying that; I mean it sincerely.

I've been waiting for this since hearing Church's debut EP a year or so ago and seeing them blow away audiences around Portland. With the addition of a full-time drummer, Church is taking their clackity, shimmery pop to a new level of goose-bump inducing awesomeness. Don't miss this band.