Sounds of Fire and Light Rind Stars (Electric Room) This debut from five-piece local rock band Rind Stars is straightforward alt-rock with echoes of alt-country and late-'60s British Invasion. If this versatile band has a sonic signature, it might be harmony (or sometimes just shared) vocals, which suggest power-pop or even country, but the effect is layered over fairly hard, sometimes skronky guitars. This dynamic is perhaps most noticeable on "Estupid Country Song," where a catchy, harmony-driven chorus comes rising out of a heavy, swirling guitar bridge. They dabble in a bit of Southern rock with "The Tick," which boasts boogie rhythms and a clanking cowbell, but the vocals remain more indie-pop. "I Don't Wanna Die First" roots around in what seems to be a moody love song, then ends with a blast. Lyrically, the band is all over the place in a good way, with songs that take on tangible topics from indirect vantage points. In all, Sounds of Fire and Light introduces a very solid rock band that evokes lots of comparisons without ever sounding like imitators. ("The Tick," "No Way," "I Don't Wanna Die First") Grade: B+ BY CHRIS HERRINGTON | MAY 17, 2007 Memphis Flyer

This debut from five-piece local rock band Rind Stars is straightforward alt-rock with echoes of alt-country and late-'60s British Invasion. If this versatile band has a sonic signature, it might be harmony (or sometimes just shared) vocals, which suggest power-pop or even country, but the effect is layered over fairly hard, sometimes skronky guitars. This dynamic is perhaps most noticeable on "Estupid Country Song," where a catchy, harmony-driven chorus comes rising out of a heavy, swirling guitar bridge. They dabble in a bit of Southern rock with "The Tick," which boasts boogie rhythms and a clanking cowbell, but the vocals remain more indie-pop. "I Don't Wanna Die First" roots around in what seems to be a moody love song, then ends with a blast. Lyrically, the band is all over the place in a good way, with songs that take on tangible topics from indirect vantage points. In all, Sounds of Fire and Light introduces a very solid rock band that evokes lots of comparisons without ever sounding like imitators. ("The Tick," "No Way," "I Don't Wanna Die First") — CH

Sounds of Fire and Light is the first full-length album from the Rind Stars, a Memphis quintet made up of non-natives Donovan Childers on bass, Kevin Conway on guitar, drummer Andy Oltremari, Jeremy Shrader on keyboards, and another guitar player who goes by the name Rock 'n' Roll Tiger. The group formed in 2005 and just one year later emerged as one of the standouts on the Makeshift 4 compilation. While a lot of bands these days are picking over the corpses of post-punk bands such as Joy Division and Echo & Bunnymen for their '80s alternative sound, the Rind Stars are firmly rooted in the indie noise pop of such Bush I-era bands as the Pixies and Pavement. It's a challenging sound, intentionally lo-fi and jarringly, almost petulantly quirky, as on the mini-epic "the Tick," which goes through no less than five vastly different sections, including a short bridge lifted straight from Led Zeppelin, in less than four minutes. But the Rind Stars reward on repeated listening. Part of the appeal lies in some genuinely compelling hooks buried under the jangly guitars, with the chugging "Hemmingway" a particular favorite. It, like most tracks on the record, is also helped by the group's extraordinary, slightly discordant Beach Boys-style harmonies -- courtesy of Childers, Conway, and, uh, Tiger -- which add a pop dimension to the otherwise aggressively angular art-rock proceedings. The harmonies provide a key lift to the chorus of Estupid Country Song, which also spotlights another key attraction of the Rind Stars, surprisingly muscular guitar interludes. Like a local My Morning Jacket or Built to Spill, the Rind Stars have built some rocking, if abbreviated six-string workouts into songs such as "I Don't Wanna Die First" and "Rich," making them a rare double threat as both songwriters and players.

After listening to the album a gazillion times (five times just this morning) I have finally figured out my favorites, and why I like them. #3 (remember I am bad with titles, and I am doing this from memory)- Obviously I am going to be partial to anything that you sing, very catchy, the lyrics kind of carry my mind to another time, another place. #4- very soothing, I love the lead in this one #5- I love the music in this one. Every time it comes on my kids dance. #6- This one reminds me of my mom. This may sound kind of strange, but here goes. She killed herself by jumping into the ocean at a place called Sunset Cliffs. When I hear this song I almost feel sinful because it does not make me sad, it makes me smile. Not because I am sick, I think it is more because she felt that she belonged in the ocean. Does this make sense? #7- Very enlightening. ;-) Is that you laughing? #8- LOVE LOVE LOVE this, fun, catchy, there would definitely be dancing if I were drinking, one of my faves to sing to (besides #3). #11- Chorus grabs me every time #13- This song just rocks. #14- Completely different style than the rest, adds dimension to the album as a whole. Are you singing this? Having trouble figuring that out. I think it's #12 (having trouble remembering which one for sure) I like it because I get the sense that the song is directed towards someone specific? #13 and #8 are, in my opinion, the best candidates for a single. I say this as if my opinion even matters about any of this. Just thought I would throw that in there. There you have it. :-)