Anton Djamoos
08/19/08, 09:16 PM
The Reign Of Kindo - Rhythm, Chord and Melody
Release Date: August 19, 2008
Label: One Eleven Records
“Whenever I listen to it, I think, ‘We’re not worthy.’ Like, why is this band in our scene?”
So says fellow AP.net reviewer Steve Henderson about The Reign of Kindo (http://www.absolutepunk.net/thereignofkindo)’s Rhythm, Chord and Melody. I found that particular quote interesting because I got to wondering how a band like this, one that doesn’t rely on a chorus to keep attention, one that most people couldn’t name a single member of, and one that favors intricate jazz fusion over an upbeat summer anthem could gain the favor on the site that they have.
Of course, it helps that they were formed from a relatively popular band in This Day and Age (http://www.absolutepunk.net/thisdayandage). This is how most people learned about Kindo, including myself, and boy am I glad that I followed this band’s path.
Their debut self-titled EP was a favorite of mine from 2007, as it was something that definitely threw me for a loop; the music was completely different from what I had been listening to at the time and it instantly hooked my attention. From there, I waited with bated breath for anything else from them until now, a year later; I have Rhythm, Chord, and Melody. It was worth the wait, as the band is able to take music and turn it into a visual landscape of beauty, heartbreak, self-consciousness, and, ultimately, hope.
And I just want to see a beautiful world in my dreams.
- “The Moments In Between”
To listen to this album is to look at a painting of an empty, snow-capped town at night—you have a crystalline and flawless world outside of the houses, but past the initial appearance, there’s a dreary mood to the scene. This album is a journey in a world of longing with a determination of hope, as singer Joseph Secchiaroli puts all of his insecurities and longing into this album. Lead track “The Moments In Between” details how he’s become something he does not want to be and I will be hard-pressed to find a better musical moment for 2008 than hearing him sing, “Oh my God, what have I become?”
While the album is not cohesive in the sense that the songs that follow one another aren’t directly a part of the others with thematic elements or subject, it still works. “Breathe Again” follows the lead track with a story of a man who murders for revenge on Christmas. A dismal subject to be sure, but you’ll probably sing along to the chorus before realizing exactly what you’re singing about. In fact, I doubt some would notice even if there were no words entirely.
It’s easy to get lost in the music that this band makes; it’s that good. There’s more going on here in one song than you’ll find in most other bands that AP.net covers. So why is this band in our scene? Simple. It’s about the music, and this band excels with music that ranges from jazz to pop to even having western influences (i.e. 2:52 into “Hold Out”). Even if none of this sounds appealing, this album should earn a listen from any fan of music just to hear the incorporation of different styles to produce something that is mostly unique in an increasingly stale genre. It’s an album that can be listened to at any time, whether it be background music, or an eyes-closed headphones experience and be appreciated.
It’s tough to describe the music on this album without getting into a track by track analysis of each song. Your best bet is to just check the album out yourself…it’s something to experience.
And it feels like I just found my way, ‘cause in my darkest hour I hear that music play. And suddenly the world and its toil disappear when the rhythm and chords fill my ears.
- “I Hear That Music Play”
Nothing can encapsulate exactly how I feel about this album more than the band’s own lyrics in “I Hear That Music Play”, as Secchiaroli seems to have unwittingly written about music that has the same effect on him that his band’s music has on me. When I hear this music play, the world disappears when the rhythm and chords fill my ears, providing me with the best musical escapism 2008 has offered me so far.
So why is this band in our scene? As long as they are putting out music like this in our scene, I'm not going to care.
Ben Folds, This Day & Age, The Flaming Lips, As Tall As Lions
Track Listing
1. The Moments In Between
2. Breathe Again
3. Great Blue Sea
4. Let It Go
5. Nice To Meet You
6. Till We Make Our Ascent
7. Something In The Way That You Are
8. Rhythm, Chord & Melody
9. I Hear That Music Play
10. The Mystery Of Our Day
11. Morning Cloud
12. Hold Out
The Reign Of Kindo is :
Joseph Secchiaroli - Vocals & Guitar
Mike Carroll - Guitar & Sizes
Kelly Sciandra - Piano & Trumpet
Jeffery Jarvis - Bass & Vocals
Steven Padin - Drums & Vocals
Website (http://www.thereignofkindo.com) | AP.net Profile (http://www.absolutepunk.net/thereignofkindo) | Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/thereignofkindo)
Release Date: August 19, 2008
Label: One Eleven Records
“Whenever I listen to it, I think, ‘We’re not worthy.’ Like, why is this band in our scene?”
So says fellow AP.net reviewer Steve Henderson about The Reign of Kindo (http://www.absolutepunk.net/thereignofkindo)’s Rhythm, Chord and Melody. I found that particular quote interesting because I got to wondering how a band like this, one that doesn’t rely on a chorus to keep attention, one that most people couldn’t name a single member of, and one that favors intricate jazz fusion over an upbeat summer anthem could gain the favor on the site that they have.
Of course, it helps that they were formed from a relatively popular band in This Day and Age (http://www.absolutepunk.net/thisdayandage). This is how most people learned about Kindo, including myself, and boy am I glad that I followed this band’s path.
Their debut self-titled EP was a favorite of mine from 2007, as it was something that definitely threw me for a loop; the music was completely different from what I had been listening to at the time and it instantly hooked my attention. From there, I waited with bated breath for anything else from them until now, a year later; I have Rhythm, Chord, and Melody. It was worth the wait, as the band is able to take music and turn it into a visual landscape of beauty, heartbreak, self-consciousness, and, ultimately, hope.
And I just want to see a beautiful world in my dreams.
- “The Moments In Between”
To listen to this album is to look at a painting of an empty, snow-capped town at night—you have a crystalline and flawless world outside of the houses, but past the initial appearance, there’s a dreary mood to the scene. This album is a journey in a world of longing with a determination of hope, as singer Joseph Secchiaroli puts all of his insecurities and longing into this album. Lead track “The Moments In Between” details how he’s become something he does not want to be and I will be hard-pressed to find a better musical moment for 2008 than hearing him sing, “Oh my God, what have I become?”
While the album is not cohesive in the sense that the songs that follow one another aren’t directly a part of the others with thematic elements or subject, it still works. “Breathe Again” follows the lead track with a story of a man who murders for revenge on Christmas. A dismal subject to be sure, but you’ll probably sing along to the chorus before realizing exactly what you’re singing about. In fact, I doubt some would notice even if there were no words entirely.
It’s easy to get lost in the music that this band makes; it’s that good. There’s more going on here in one song than you’ll find in most other bands that AP.net covers. So why is this band in our scene? Simple. It’s about the music, and this band excels with music that ranges from jazz to pop to even having western influences (i.e. 2:52 into “Hold Out”). Even if none of this sounds appealing, this album should earn a listen from any fan of music just to hear the incorporation of different styles to produce something that is mostly unique in an increasingly stale genre. It’s an album that can be listened to at any time, whether it be background music, or an eyes-closed headphones experience and be appreciated.
It’s tough to describe the music on this album without getting into a track by track analysis of each song. Your best bet is to just check the album out yourself…it’s something to experience.
And it feels like I just found my way, ‘cause in my darkest hour I hear that music play. And suddenly the world and its toil disappear when the rhythm and chords fill my ears.
- “I Hear That Music Play”
Nothing can encapsulate exactly how I feel about this album more than the band’s own lyrics in “I Hear That Music Play”, as Secchiaroli seems to have unwittingly written about music that has the same effect on him that his band’s music has on me. When I hear this music play, the world disappears when the rhythm and chords fill my ears, providing me with the best musical escapism 2008 has offered me so far.
So why is this band in our scene? As long as they are putting out music like this in our scene, I'm not going to care.
Ben Folds, This Day & Age, The Flaming Lips, As Tall As Lions
Track Listing
1. The Moments In Between
2. Breathe Again
3. Great Blue Sea
4. Let It Go
5. Nice To Meet You
6. Till We Make Our Ascent
7. Something In The Way That You Are
8. Rhythm, Chord & Melody
9. I Hear That Music Play
10. The Mystery Of Our Day
11. Morning Cloud
12. Hold Out
The Reign Of Kindo is :
Joseph Secchiaroli - Vocals & Guitar
Mike Carroll - Guitar & Sizes
Kelly Sciandra - Piano & Trumpet
Jeffery Jarvis - Bass & Vocals
Steven Padin - Drums & Vocals
Website (http://www.thereignofkindo.com) | AP.net Profile (http://www.absolutepunk.net/thereignofkindo) | Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/thereignofkindo)