CD Reviews

Blondfire

‘Where The Kids Are EP’

Warner Bros

Blondfire’s been something of an indie pop darling since its 2006 debut made it the first unsigned band to hit No. 1 on the iTunes Alternative chart. The band — comprised mainly of siblings Bruce and Erica Driscoll — has been working on its new album, “Win The Game,” for the better part of two years. In the meantime, it has released this EP, consisting of two previously-released tracks and two new numbers. Blondfire’s sound is indie-pop in its most crystalized form. The tracks combine acoustic guitar with a synth beat backing Erica Driscoll’s dreamy vocals. If you’re not into bands like The Bird and the Bee, you might find Blondfire’s sound too light and cloying. But for lovers of indie-pop, “Where The Kids Are” is a nice little amuse bouche before the main course of “Win The Game” arrives in early 2013. CV

The High Crest

‘The High Crest’

Independent

At first blush, “The High Crest” seems too simple. Its melodies are delicate, the vocals understated and the lyrics are at times nursery-rhyme simple. But there, folded inside all the subtlety, is the album’s true genius. The husband-and-wife duo of Kat Darling and Aaron Earl Short are far more than just the sum of its parts. Short’s guitar work is woven beautifully throughout each track, and while his vocals are heartfelt and sincere, it’s Darling’s work that leaves you waiting for more. Darling’s voice is perfectly suited to the material. She’s soulful and bares her emotions in a way that runs the gamut from exhilarating (“120”) to devastating (“Light and Time”). The songs bear the evidence of lives lived in unison. As they take turns singing, their guitars intertwine melodies, and track after track unfolds with the casual ease that only comes from years spent in intimate contact. CV