High Diner

High Diner is a Boston based Indie-Pop band with a unique sound and infectious music. The songs are catchy, fun, and stay in your head all day long. These talented musicians have found the perfect formula for breezy, catchy tunes, and leave the listener wanting more.

The song “C.K.F” starts out with a funky intro, with guitars, the tapping of the hi-hat, and drums. Then the organ comes in, giving the song a unique, 70's-ish vibe. The lead singer’s voice is decent, and the vocals are distorted, giving the song a nostalgic feel. Its reminiscent of the technique used in Foster the People’s “Pumped Up Kicks.” The keyboard, organ, and synthesizers on the track give it an old school edge, and the talents of the band are evident in the catchy instrumentation that complements the vocals perfectly. On “Pretty Redhead,” the band showcases a more breezy, laid-back, almost a Caribbean vibe. It’s memorable, and again the organ-infused instrumentation is unique. The vocals are decent, and his voice works well for this type of song. The song’s classic sixties vibe brings to mind bands of yore such as the Beach Boys. This type of carefree California beach style of music is not heard often these days, so it’s refreshing to hear this type of music from this band.

High Diner is a great band with cool, retro sounds and great catchy lyrics. They have talent, and a knack for lighthearted songs with great hooks. This band is poised to have great success in the music world, and it’s only a matter of time before High Diner is a well-known name! - Amped Sounds

Received this song via e-mail from a band who say they are a cross between The Beatles and Hot Chip. They are High Diner, who call Boston home, and their style of pop mixes up different styles of music from the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's, and in the case with “c.k.f.”, it’s all within one song. Some elements reminded me of Electric Light Orchestra while others got me thinking into the kind of music my teacher used to play at school along with film strips. Pop music with thought can be addictive, and if people are hearing and/or feeling what I am hearing/feeling, they’ll want to make High Diner their addiction too. - This Is Book's Music

Purple Creek is the ambitious debut album by High Diner, a new Boston-based group who cites the Beatles as a great influence on them musically, which can sometimes be an understatement while listening to this release. Not only do they borrow the pop hooks of almost every popular band of 1968, it also has that certain retro sound that seems to be dwindling in popularity as of late. It's almost as if this album was frozen in time, and just recently uncovered, or all the musicians are reincarnations of underground talent in London from the late sixties, as their music makes it feel almost as if that really is the case.


Starting off with "C.K.F", the keyboard-dominant song structure pays great homage to bands like The Doors, while still retaining its individuality. From that point on, the band experiments with a variety of instruments in various songs, whether them being organic of fabricated on a keyboard, they flow so flawlessly that it isn't even a concern. What's most impressive is that there wasn't any low point on the record, and there wasn't a single song I couldn't really get into. The real winner on this record, however, is the delightfully upbeat and downright charming track "Paris" that is jammed right in the middle, it makes your acquaintance, gets to know you, and before you know it, it's gone back to its hometown in such a bittersweet manner that makes you just quest for more. All of that ending with the minimalistic and overly joyous "Sunday", which has a slow progression to one of the most rewarding endings to any record yet to show its face in 2012, and you have one impressed reviewer.


I almost feel like a thief for listening to this without having to pay because it's a free release. There's a great chance that if these guys decide to show Purple Creek to any independent labels, they'd be able to get a deal pretty easily. For 8 tracks topping out at around 28 minutes, it isn't a great investment of time, yet once you start it, time isn't even a concern because I guarantee you will be hooked on it to the end.


There's nothing wrong with a throwback, as long as you contemporize a little bit, and that's sadly where Purple Creek falls just a tad bit short (no, I'm not trying to be harsh on the band!). It seems like 60s sunshine pop decides to record music with the 80s madchester scene and recruits the 90s lo-fi craze to help produce in its free time. And you know what? That's not exactly a bad thing because it helps discover musical identity, and Purple Creek opens the doors of opportunity and leaves big question mark on the direction that the band will go later on. Because the band themselves cite this as a demo record of sorts, the sporadic genre mash-ups are forgivable, and I wholeheartedly think that if this is just what can be done to classify as a demo, I'll be happily talking about High Diner again sometime in the future. - The Real Music

Purple Creek is the ambitious debut album by High Diner, a new Boston-based group who cites the Beatles as a great influence on them musically, which can sometimes be an understatement while listening to this release. Not only do they borrow the pop hooks of almost every popular band of 1968, it also has that certain retro sound that seems to be dwindling in popularity as of late. It's almost as if this album was frozen in time, and just recently uncovered, or all the musicians are reincarnations of underground talent in London from the late sixties, as their music makes it feel almost as if that really is the case.


Starting off with "C.K.F", the keyboard-dominant song structure pays great homage to bands like The Doors, while still retaining its individuality. From that point on, the band experiments with a variety of instruments in various songs, whether them being organic of fabricated on a keyboard, they flow so flawlessly that it isn't even a concern. What's most impressive is that there wasn't any low point on the record, and there wasn't a single song I couldn't really get into. The real winner on this record, however, is the delightfully upbeat and downright charming track "Paris" that is jammed right in the middle, it makes your acquaintance, gets to know you, and before you know it, it's gone back to its hometown in such a bittersweet manner that makes you just quest for more. All of that ending with the minimalistic and overly joyous "Sunday", which has a slow progression to one of the most rewarding endings to any record yet to show its face in 2012, and you have one impressed reviewer.


I almost feel like a thief for listening to this without having to pay because it's a free release. There's a great chance that if these guys decide to show Purple Creek to any independent labels, they'd be able to get a deal pretty easily. For 8 tracks topping out at around 28 minutes, it isn't a great investment of time, yet once you start it, time isn't even a concern because I guarantee you will be hooked on it to the end.


There's nothing wrong with a throwback, as long as you contemporize a little bit, and that's sadly where Purple Creek falls just a tad bit short (no, I'm not trying to be harsh on the band!). It seems like 60s sunshine pop decides to record music with the 80s madchester scene and recruits the 90s lo-fi craze to help produce in its free time. And you know what? That's not exactly a bad thing because it helps discover musical identity, and Purple Creek opens the doors of opportunity and leaves big question mark on the direction that the band will go later on. Because the band themselves cite this as a demo record of sorts, the sporadic genre mash-ups are forgivable, and I wholeheartedly think that if this is just what can be done to classify as a demo, I'll be happily talking about High Diner again sometime in the future. - The Real Music

In the now cantankerous blogosphere, music is listened to and reviewed through a linear, historical lens, using bands that chronologically came before the artist under review to provide some sort of exposition for how the artist may sound or feel. Often resulting in discussion, it is a useful, albeit somewhat limited strategy to put a finger on what the listener is experiencing. In the debut album, Purple Creek, High Diner’s sound could be compared to acts from the 60's and 70's like the Beatles or psychedelic standouts such as Syd Barrett, Velvet Underground or even the very spacey Strawberry Alarm Clock.

Despite the serious vintage vibe, there are still subtle twinges of later 80's things like A-Ha and Prefab Sprout. Regardless of what most would agree as influences on the band’s sound, it would be more useful to understand that High Diner has created an emblematic sound of their own, with each track expressing unique feelings and experiences.

The 21-year-old John Murphy fronts the new Boston collective and has had 15 years of piano experience in Jazz and Classical music, which explains the thoroughly well-done composition on the LP. The bands primary, spatial genre could be simplified to something like piano rock or pop rock, yet the band frequently departs into styles like funk and dancey electronica, as if subtly nodding at modern motifs in a, “Yeah, we can do that too” kind of way.

“Schoolyard” is a wonderfully spacey jam, with a vintage honky-tonk piano interplay and vocal melodies that arouse a semblance to the Pink Floyd psychedelic classic, “Piper at the Gates of Dawn.” Soaring harmonies are paired with minimalist, emotive lyrics:

I live in a school yard
four by four by four by three
all in a row there still like
definitely you can come and see what’s new
if you insist yeah if you must insist
and I know you will
(know you will)

Murphy’s piano skills are present in songs like this, making the listener wonder what kind of stage presence the guys at High Diner have.

Each individual tune is uniquely interesting, all the while having distinct emotions and movements between them. There are songs like “Massachusetts Waltz” and “In The Morning” which sound like they belong in a movie like “Dinner For Schmucks,” even slightly resembling one of the artists on the soundtrack, Sondre Lerche.

The half-way point features a track entitled “Cornucopia,” and is one of the most interesting tracks overall. An instrumental, it begins with a wide, reverbified/chorused acoustic guitar rhythm. Slowly, a lo-fi, jazzy drum beat enters, using the ride cymbals to accentuate the acoustic rhythm, now accompanied by a ukulele playing a very simple three note melody. The song conjures similar feelings to bands like Beirut, or songs like “Brazil” on Arcade Fire’s Funeral B-Side. A saxophone joins in, accompanying the melody, then moves into a wonderfully jazzy solo and shortly after ends the song with the culmination of the instruments playing the main, familiar melody.

The last track “Sunday,” is a realistic finalization to the themes and feelings High Diner has utilized on the LP. After an intro reminiscent to dream-pop contemporaries, Beach House, a simple electronic drum beat continues and a tranquilized, pastoral vocal melody.

I saw a bird today
she smiled to me and flew away
I saw a plane today
I missed my flight now where am I to stay
maybe you’re the sun day
I’m the monday to the friday
show me where you fly away

Despite the almost overbearing pop feel, Murphy’s lyrics and vocal presence evoke images of reminiscing about the past and of having things and losing them. In a truly enjoyable album, High Diner’s skillful musicianship and creativity make you wonder “why aren’t they more famous?” - Indie Music Reviewer

"This track is relentlessly addictive, drawing upon a delicious 70s pop vibe. The keys enter Ween territory on the bridge, offering spaced out synth lines in exchange for the song’s recurring pop chords. " - Thoughts On Tracks

"... ‘c.k.f.‘ a pop tune that, if searching for an adjective, pops. Wonky pianos line the surface as saturated vocal sparks jump in and out of the fire. It’s the perfect song for bobbing down the sidewalk amidst the beautiful people." - DINGUS