Stones in Pockets

Stones In Pockets new track “Go Angry” is for anyone who yearns for buzz ballads from the 90s. The Brooklyn based rock band pays acoustic tribute to their influences by writing music in a similar vein to the 90’s greats like Alice In Chains, Stone Temple Pilots and Pearl Jam. Lyrically the song talks about a yearning to end things on good terms and not wanting to look back in anger similar to the Oasis hit. Instrumentally it sounds very similar to an MTV unplugged set or the acoustic record Jar Of Flies from Alice In Chains. The sound is very dark, brooding and self-loathing but it is also organic and honest which adds a sincerity to it that I really do appreciate.

Here is a link to the whole release, somethings I really enjoyed from Intercom were the tasteful guitar licks, ethereal vocal timbre and layering of vocal harmonies. Stand outs for me are “Go Angry”, “The Gate”, and “Dreams of Kali”. I also love the line “I don’t need your roses, I don’t want the thorns” in “Supernatural”. - It’s Not Records

Stones in Pockets – “Intercom” Album Review

Stones in Pockets recently released their debut album “Intercom” to the masses which draws inspiration from several places. The band would describe their sound as alternative world music with a core rooted in grunge. This description was spot on and apparent as soon as the first song started to play. The lead singer (Neil) has a captivating voice that draws you in from the beginning. However, the band’s instrumentation was the highlight of the song. “DryBox” definitely sets the tone for the album.

“Go Angry” speaks on a man trying to mend a relationship before his lover exits. The lyrics on this song are for sure tearjerkers and relatable. The harmonies on this one are superb! “Canvas” isn’t Neil’s strongest vocal performance but it’s nice to see the band incorporate a more complex vocal arrangement in the album. It’s a well-written track! The chorus & the bridge honestly saved the song.

“Dreams of Kali” sticks to the band’s vision of creating world music as the track is sung in a foreign language. Outside of that, there’s nothing really special about this one. On “Heart-Shaped Box,” Neil received help vocally from Ruah! The duet paid off as this is easily the best song on the album! I can see this one being a crowd favorite at the shows!

While listening to “The Gate,” I noticed that the lyrical theme followed the same concept as “Dreams of Kali” which spoke about a foreign love. Outside of the obvious, this track was also hard to get through. “Supernatural” has very catchy lyrics! The band should be able to play this record anywhere as it truly blends well across genres. “Wicked on the Prowl” was the last song on the album but it didn’t fill the void for what the album was missing! The album needed at least one upbeat track!

Overall, Intercom is a solid debut from the band. The verses are relatable, and the instrumentation is good! Of course, there’s plenty of room for growth but a solid foundation has been set.

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Music Links:
The album and EP are available everywhere at https://stonesinpockets.com/b3ze - Flyah Magazine