KentState is fuzzed-out, noisy indie punk like a lukewarm version of Guided By Voices or Pavement. Hell, even the album cover reminds me of Pavement’s Slanted and Enchanted. Like most bands with this style, the guitars are pushed way upfront, the vocals are lost in the mix, and the cymbals cut like a hacksaw. I don’t mind the lo-fi pop sound, but when there’s little to no hooks or melodies, it becomes grating. The LP is redeemed by moments that conjure Hickey’s more grungy contributions. A bit more finesse—then this band may rule.
–Sean Arenas (Debt Offensive, debtoffensiverecs.blogspot.ca / Paranoid Futures, [email protected])