The Young Sinclairs on 13 O'Clock Records

I guess the era of glowing, garage pop harmony never really went away. I was going to go on about how many bands it seems are popping up lately like Paul Messis, The Ar-Kaics, Jacco Gardner - hell most of the Trouble in Mind catalog but then I go further back to the Fresh and Onlys, White Fence or even Woods and realize it isn't anything new. The Young Sinclairs have seen that same light in Roanoke, Virginia and their latest from 13 O'Clock Records is just one in a long list of singles that keep getting better.

A-Side's "Change Your Mind" opens on light hand plucked guitar notes with Samuel Lunsford landing like a feather into his slow harmony. Even the snare is muted from up there in the clouds while the strums fall in regular quilted patterns. Samuel plays everything on this side and I don't know where I got the impression there were more people involved except that this arrangement has that massive hazy pop psych quality of a much larger scene. Especially in the range of harmony layered over this slow afternoon jam. I admire the restraint here that seems to hold that hit just a little bit lighter when it sounds like it's on the verge of expanding into something more epic but if you want to change her mind you have to take it easy. Don't be pushy.
B-Side's "Once or Twice" has a high metallic twang of the multiple twelve string guitars from Samuel who's joined by John Thompson. His natural breathy harmonies are back, not that he hides in the layers, it becomes an opportunity to add odd timings in a two step rush right before this breezy chorus. Something inherently sad about both of these tracks, they're deceptively laid back pop but lyrically looking back full of regret. One summer I painted vacation houses on lake ontario and listened endlessly to The Posies Dear 23, and this track is bringing that back. A couple of friends, hanging out all day, quitting early to bbq again at the park, the afternoon fields swarming with insects and getting drunk for the first time. It's the stuff I'll be listening to forever. It doesn't get old or age, it's not just stuck in that '60s sound, in it's own way punk, the K records dfinition of punk - doing what makes sense.

Check out the mailorder section of 13 O'Clock to pick this one up.