Indie rock and punk rock often run along the same course, and in the case of the young New York outfit Freezing Cold, the genres are fused together in exciting, sometimes inventive ways. Though Glimmer might be their debut, Jeff Cunningham, Angie Boylan, and Nick Rice paid their dues in outfits like Bridge And Tunnel, Weed Hounds, and Aye Nako, and those experiences comes together in one really impressive listen here.
“New Ways To Wait” starts the listen with loud, melodic and sonically charged guitar rock with just enough grit in the vocals, and “Hand Wringing Hands” follows with a more subdued approach as soft, distant vocals complement the agile setting.
In the middle, “And The Morning Light” simmers with post-punk influences amid a more modern indie rock approach, while “Here/Now” recruits pianos on a dreamy step into ethereal textures that are as unexpected as they are welcoming. “Teenage Insights,” the album highlight, then moves from a cautious alt-rocker into giant swells of guitar solos alongside a kinetic rhythm section.
Deeper into the record, the acoustic fueled “Skywriting” uses backing female vocals strategically in a campfire-esque delivery, and “Squint To See” offers bits of math rock in the crunchy execution that soars with a raw edge. “Shines” ends the listen bare and brief, with just a lone guitar.
J. Robbins, of Government Issue and Jawbox fame, turned the knobs here; and much like everything he’s done, the album sounds incredible, with the perfect blend of rawness mixed with pristine melody. While some might argue that anything that Robbins touches turns to gold, I have to think that he didn’t need to do as much fine tuning here, as the trio that is Freezing Cold certainly know their way around a compelling tune.
Word on the street is that Angie Boylan is now Sleater Kinney’s touring drummer; let’s hope she still finds time for this outfit, as the potential here seems boundless.
