Assembled from the survivors of Windsor, ON's '90s and '00s music scenes, Club Thunderbolt definitely act their age on City of Salt. Referencing the musical sensibilities of early-Sub Pop and the emotional susceptibilities of today's musical crop of thirtysomethings (the National, the Walkmen), Club Thunderbolt's debut brazenly blends extroverted sonic knowhow with inward-looking themes.
Over the album's ten tracks, Club Thunderbolt manage to tackle broad subjects (heartbreak, death, hometown politics) in an intimate manner, thanks to Dave Mueller, Kipp Van Kuren and Meg Farron's hushed and tempered vocal deliveries. Producer Chris Koltay (Akron/Family, the Dirtbombs), helps the sextet sound equal parts brainy and brawny as melodies build and crumble on tracks like "Holy Ground" and "House Inside My Head."
Anchored by Grainger Harris' loose-rail guitar and R.J. Brando and Nick Mitchell's titanium rhythm section, much of Club Thunderbolt's debut stays within the structured confines of indie and post rock, making City of Salt a mature and instinct-driven album from a band experienced enough to bare their chops.
(Chieftown Records)Over the album's ten tracks, Club Thunderbolt manage to tackle broad subjects (heartbreak, death, hometown politics) in an intimate manner, thanks to Dave Mueller, Kipp Van Kuren and Meg Farron's hushed and tempered vocal deliveries. Producer Chris Koltay (Akron/Family, the Dirtbombs), helps the sextet sound equal parts brainy and brawny as melodies build and crumble on tracks like "Holy Ground" and "House Inside My Head."
Anchored by Grainger Harris' loose-rail guitar and R.J. Brando and Nick Mitchell's titanium rhythm section, much of Club Thunderbolt's debut stays within the structured confines of indie and post rock, making City of Salt a mature and instinct-driven album from a band experienced enough to bare their chops.