Pinback Autumn of the Seraphs
Genre: Indie Rock
Stand Out Tracks: From Nothing to Nowhere, Good To Sea, The Devil You Know
Record Label: Touch and Go
By BMcMahon

The busy San Diegan band, Pinback, fronted by two members, Rob Crow and Zach Smith, seemingly tamed their wildly ambitious efforts in their latest masterpiece, Autumn of the Serephs. This marks the band’s first release since Summer in Abaddon, their major success in 2004 on Touch & Go Records. Taking time to sort out their individual efforts was the catalyst of not only Crow releasing his own work, but Smith working on his side project, Three Mile Pilot. Now, with their fourth LP under their belts, Pinback claims they have experimented more, adding new touches on their album, and who couldn’t be more tuned-in to their latest than their patient fans.

The most defining moment for any band's freshly finished album is whether it leaks or not, and it almost always does. To Pinback's dismay, their album had 'accidentally' been put on a shared server out in San Francisco a good three months before its release and soon spread like wildfire. As reported on PinbackFreak.com, Zach Smith reacted, “We knew that it was inevitable and hoped that it would leak closer to the release date..." Soon, thousands of Pinback fans rushed for it and their palette was sufficed.

Whether the pop appeal or crisp design of the album draws listeners the most, the band’s cohesive synthesis of Crow's high-pitched vocals and the glutton of guitar friendly tracks exhibits Pinback’s strongest facets. Autumn of the Seraphs continues Pinback's successful blueprint of these elements, but now, with a further developed swagger to the album, the band continues their slowly evolving style. Starting out unconnected to any other facet of rock in their self-titled debut Pinback (This Is A Pinback CD), Autumn of the Seraphs provides a relative assimilation by means of their pop rock beats. Although they have barely altered their style, the subtle advances are best displayed in their most popular song from AOTS, "Good To Sea You". Not only do Smith and Crow succeed in their methodical rhythmic structure, but harmonizing and the electronic blips in the background make this song even more pleasant and upbeat than one would expect Pinback to be. Tracks 1 through 4 perfect set the stage for this album.

As Pinback hasn't done on their other albums, several relishable songs stud the beginning of the album. Even after the subdued "This Is How We Breathe", with its bubbly guitar and slower tempo, the album flows smoothly without making any uncomfortable transitions song to song. But before the album arrives at Pinback's single, "The Devil You Know", listeners will be reacquainted with touches from what's been heard on previous albums with "Subbing for Eden", "Torch" and “Off by 50”. Songs like these relay the same consistent touch we've heard from Pinback before. Its almost as if Smith and Crow will never be ready to move on to something new or groundbreaking for the band. Without a doubt, this is the reason why so many fans love them: a steady product, and a successful procedure barring for no changes, despite the subtle crevices they carved throughout Autumn of the Seraphs.

Vocals: 7.0 Album flow: 7.9 Sound: 8.1 Overall Album: 7.8 Reviewer’s Tilt: 8.0

AOTS or any other album Pinback created will never pry its way into the pop scene. The sole substance of the album, whether too depressing, off-key or overdone with drum kits takes nothing away from the band. Even though they will never break into the pop scene, they continue to draw even more fans, growing their unusually large fan base for an underground band such as themselves. Whatever makes Pinback who they are, or appeal so likeable, cannot be denied. Autumn of the Seraphs isn’t the band's best work to date; however, several songs are quite impressive and comparable to their acclaimed album Summer in Abaddon. Overall, I'm very pleased with this album and am excited for more EP's and collections to keep rolling around the corner, which are always to be expected. Pinback still holds true to me that they will always fill that gap that no other band can fill.

*Currently, Autumn of the Seraphs is holding at the #3 spot on Amazon's Indie Rock section behind Band of Horses at #1 and Jose Gonzales at #2.