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Written by Janelle Greenwood Thursday, 27 April 2006 08:11

He claims that it all started with listening to Nirvana’s Nevermind, but all that’s left of that original inspirational moment is a dedication to put together a well-crafted set of tracks.

Mike K’s music is about deep layers, much like that of a visual pastry where a different flavors comes out in each song. A Simple Story Simply Told is not necessarily a clearly cohesive LP that flows together as one entity. That may be a good or a bad thing depending on how you look at it.

Certainly not every good record made is cohesive, or even one whole story told in fragments of the larger picture; but it may have been wise to tie these songs together by more than just their layering technique and the occasional similarity of instrumentation in this grouping of songs.

There are many influences that are evident on A Simple Story Simply Told. It’s evident that Mike K finds encouragement lyrically from similar bands like the Shins; but there is also a tinge of Smashing Pumpkins, mostly in his vocal similarity to Billy Corgan’s whispering tone, that lingers throughout every track. He claims that it all started with listening to Nirvana’s Nevermind, but all that’s left of that original inspirational moment is a dedication to put together a well-crafted set of tracks.

He’s defiantly young in his content, but not in an overly commercialized prepackaged kind of way. Instead, Mike K still thinks like a young person and it comes through in his music, particularly in his need to be all over the place. “RazorCloser” is an acoustic sounding shot at capturing melancholy and a razor’s edge, while “We Are the Ones (Infinity, No Give Backs) is a throwback to a mockery of teen rock anthems.

It’s mixture of sonically induced pop layers with acoustic guitars and the occasional clacking of an unidentifiable instrument are probably what sticks out the most on this album. “Quietening” is a slower, more drawn out approach to Mike K’s songwriting and music-playing abilities. It comfortably cradles the listener in his voice.

The only really oddity in the layering comes in last song “Paranoia” and its lullaby music box introduction amid the whispering percussion and then the constant chanting of “paranoia” over and over. It gives the song a creepy element that I don’t think he was truly aiming for.

We will probably hear more from this budding artist in the next few years as he really hones in on his sound and continues to churn out likeable and uniquely flavored songs.

RIYL: The Shins, Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana

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