Kinch is a band from Phoenix, Arizona and The Incandenza was, in their words, influenced by "Lux coffee, Boss Orange distortion pedals, Steinway B's, David Foster Wallace, SampleMoog, anxiety, acid reflux and downstrokes."

Kinch is best described as very upbeat sounding pop music with retro overtones (especially in the choruses) and lyrics that give off a stark contrast with their despair. It's really a close reflection to Sub Pop post-grunge era, with bands like the Posies and Sunny Day Real Estate. There's a lot of bounce all over, and when you see them live I presume a lot of the audience does the head-bob dance where you act like you're going to jump but never really leave your feet.

The Incandenza is the band's third release and it offers end to end coverage of everything about the alt-pop, or indie-pop genre. All the lyrics are tight (good usage of metaphors in the verses), the guitar really just smashes through with a great sound, especially in songs like "45 minutes," where the verse-chorus-verse song structure really hits a climax and you absolutely feel your heart beat a little faster when the chorus comes in.

And this is the bulk of the album. With sophisticated arrangements, Kinch uses a variety of instruments such as strings and piano, a notable high point being "That's Just the Mess We're In," where the piano and vocals really hit a Beatles feel, where every instrument on the track hits their own individual groove simultaneously.

So what have we learned? Apparently alt rock, alt/pop has a strong presence in 2011 and Kinch is a forerunner. They are intelligent songwriters with good hooks and everything is put together well. There's no reason not to get this if you love this type of music, as The Incandenza is a great listen.

Track List

1. When I was Young
2. Evelyn
3. Like a Curse
4. 45 Minutes
5. That's Just the Mess That We're In
6. Once, I Was a Mainsail
7. Tea Party Bomba
8. Bye Bye Bye Bye
9. Ocean
10. VHS
11. The Incandenza