Spiral Stairs
We Wanna Be Hyp-No-Tized
Nine Mile
May 30, 2019 Web Exclusive
Ex-Pavement guitarist Scott Kannberg’s new album under the moniker Spiral Stairs, We Wanna Be Hyp-No-Tized, hashes out a convivial atmosphere for Kannberg to tinker with upbeat, generally danceable rock and roll songs. His historically patchy work as both Spiral Stairs and Preston School of Industry is nowhere in sight—We Wanna Be Hyp-No-Tized is tender, moving, and focused. Kannberg notes Roxy Music and Nick Lowe as major influences for We Wanna Be Hyp-No-Tized, and, while he foists his artistic disposition amongst a holy trio of aesthetic influences and inspirations, the general energy of Hyp-No-Tized isn’t far off. Hyp-No-Tized certainly shares a similar energy of Lowe’s magnum opus Jesus of Cool—fun, varied takes on traditional rock song structures with a certain sporadic cohesion that can land either just right or way left-field—luckily for Kannberg, Hyp-No-Tized measures to land with the former.
It’s important to tread carefully when considering Kannberg’s work as Spiral Stairs—or any sort of Pavement offshoot, for that matter. While Kannberg is inherit indie-rock royalty based upon his years playing guitar alongside Stephen Malkmus in Pavement, without Malkmus’ cockeyed energy to support it, waters muddy, and a novelty offshoot of indie rock’s past can form.
By no means does Hyp-No-Tized enter any form of undiscovered territory, though—Kannberg has honed down his songwriting chops and pulled from the alternate universe of “classic rock” gold as influence. Hyp-No-Tized finds room for tasteful micro-arrangements of piano and saxophone, and, while winding lead guitar riffs are aplenty, their subtleness is refined and perfectly executed. While his past may haunt him, Kannberg’s future as Spiral Stairs is promising. (www.spiralstairsofficial.com)
Author rating: 7/10
Average reader rating: 8/10
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