In Chapter 3 of Illinois’ six-EP The Adventures of Kid Catastrophe, the Bucks County, PA band gets to the heart of things with their sadder, softer side. The band’s 2007 What the Hell Do I Know? EP (QRO review) impressively showcased many different styles, and so far, The Adventures of Kid Catastrophe has been doing that as well. First there was the higher-tech, beat- and reverb-heavy Chapter 1 (QRO review), then the backwoods, dirty-blues Chapter 2 (QRO review). Now comes the stripped, melancholy Kid Catastrophe in Chapter 3.
This all comes out most clearly in leadoff track “Are You Coming With Me?”. Singer/songwriter Chris Archibald (QRO interview) has always had a strong emotional touch, but often bypassed it in favor of his catchy rhythms and winning personality. Yet on “Are You”, Archibald utilizes some slow strum beauty to display a sad loss. Illinois first got attention thanks to energetic live shows and remarkable upbeat pieces like What the Hell’s “Bad Day” and “Nosebleed” (Mary Louise Parker shook her ass to it on Weeds…), plus Chapter 1’s “Hang On” (one of Spin’s ‘Songs You Must Hear Now!’ in their 2008 year-end issue) – it’s good to know that the band hasn’t left their heart behind.
After that welcome return, the other two tracks on Chapter 3 are stretches by the band, “She Don’t Look Like You” and “An Open Door”. “She Don’t” keeps the sad ways of “Are You”, but goes for high harmony (something that’s being used a lot these days, to great commercial success, whether actually good like Bon Iver – QRO album review – or not so much like Fleet Foxes – QRO album review), which is a little out of the band’s wheelhouse, pitch-wise; the piece even ends with Illinois’ first-ever saxophone. A better venture forth is “Open Door”, thanks to its stripped-but-bright neo-Beatles strum. As different from the blues/rock Chapter 2 as it is from the tech-strong Chapter 1, the catchy piece worms its way in.
Along with three more tracks comes the third Adventures video from Archibald & Los Angeles’ People-Food, the hilariously awkward ‘Arch Has a Conversation With His Neighbors’:
Putting out six EPs over six months instead of a single full-length, and playing East Coast record release parties each month instead of a tour, is not the normal way of doing things. But Illinois confounds expectations like their (not) home-state Senator, and soon-to-be-President, Barack Obama (or Governor, and soon-to-be-inmate, Rod Blagojevich…), and they do so again by showing their heart on The Adventures of Kid Catastrophe, Chapter 3.
MP3 Stream: "Are You Coming With Me?"
- Ted Chase
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The ‘soft sound of the seventies’ revival continues apace, thanks to Annuals guitarist Kenny Florence & the rearranged Sunfold, on their debut LP, Toy Tugboats.
The ‘soft sound of the seventies’ revival continues apace, thanks to Annuals guitarist Kenny Florence & the rearranged Sunfold, on their debut LP, Toy Tugboats. 
