"Autumn of the Seraphs" by 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
	Published: 2007-09-07 Provider: Artist Direct