Pinback

Pinback's Rob Crow keeps his fingers in a lot of proverbial pies, forming bands to scratch specific genre itches (like the gleeful metal of Goblin Cock) and, when all else fails, stepping out solo to release increasingly thoughtful albums like this year's Living Well. His primary calling card rightfully remains his somewhat more conventional indie-pop collaboration with Pinback partner Armistead Burwell Smith IV (aka Zach Smith). Their fourth album, Autumn of the Seraphs, returns to the airy harmonies and propulsive, unpredictable chord arrangements that have become their signature.

At their lightest, Pinback recall the daydream vibes of Earlimart or The Sea and Cake, but when Crow reaches the mid-song climax of "Devil You Know" and belts with a strained urgency, he bears more in common with Tool's Maynard James Keenan (the music, presumably to the relief of most Pinback fans, does not follow suit). Songs thread together seamlessly, but seldom bleed into one another—sharp-angled post-rockers rest comfortably alongside piano-boosted pop prettiness like "How We Breathe." Seraphs offers limited surprises to the Pinback faithful, but with this sort of quality and consistency, few listeners should be left pining for a new sound.

—Adam McKibbin
09.07.07

Creators of some of the most intricately and expertly woven indie rock of the 2000s, Pinback don't disappoint with their fourth record, Autumn of the Seraphs. As twin cogs Zach Smith and Rob Crow have matured, they've grown from (slightly) meandering mopes to expert constructors of songs that reveal hidden layers with nearly every listen. Acolytes of the Police, the group channel their energy into a fluid dynamic of songwriting, performance, and production. "From Nothing to Nowhere" is a driving opener, but from there Pinback go in unexpected directions. Early highlights "Barnes" and "Good to Sea" twist a recipe of individual ingredients -- wistful harmonies, plangent basslines, spidery guitars, and wry lyrics ("it's good to see you...it's good to see you go") -- into an excellent dish. Aside from their own majority contributions, the duo get help from a pair of drummers -- Mario Rubalcaba (Rocket from the Crypt, Hot Snakes, Sea of Tombs) and Chris Prescott (No Knife) -- and use programmed beats on several tracks. The effect is a good one, since Pinback have always relied on the precision of their arrangements and their wintry sound to carry the effect of their dour songs. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide