Separate States [CD]

Often, pop music conjures images of songs so straight and crisp, so under control, that it cannot be classified otherwise. Thats why its so rare when wild, reckless music is considered pop no matter how memorable the melody, and perhaps why dubbing Puddle Splashers first full-length a rock record seems insufficient. Indeed, Separate States feels like a proper pop record, with melodies that loop lazily around the listenerthat is, until the buzzing chords and plodding drums complicate the designation. This division is illustrated nicely in opener Summer Sigh, as well as on Decent Thoughts, a song whose clean, electric chords mimic an acoustics sticky jingleand whose choruses smolder with almost aggressively fuzzy guitars. In fact, for every murky, stomping monster (like Not a Word, on which singer and guitarist Andy Altadonna howls the lyrics like a lonely wolf), lighter tracks speckle the record, like the breezy No Leaves, with its airy organ and tempo, or the sun-streaked Im Hurting Me. The songs on Separate States seem to display two distinct concepts at once: Rock music thats thick and rich, and pop music so light and simple, so accessible, that its weight seems somehow weightless. And, perhaps, its this themes that reveals the most meaningful secret to Puddle Splashers sound: That which appears separated is always closer than it seems. Its why rock music can never be pop, and why the best rock music can be nothing but.

• Internal ID: JITRE
• Released: 7/22/16
• Genre: Rock
• Format Detail: CD
• Format: CD
• Handling Note: **Please allow an additional 72 hours for this item's shipment.**