If/Then is a trio from Bloomington, Indiana comprised of Mike Jackson (guitar/vocals), Mike Emmett (bass/vocals) and Jason Gold (drums/percussion). The band released an eleven-song album entitled Kids.
The album is a high energy rock album with emotionally charged performances. I was reminded of a lot of bands that were very popular around 2005 through 2010 like Wolf Parade and Sunset Rubdown but perhaps most evident was Arcade Fire. The performances are dynamic and Jackson’s vocals are versatile and emotive. Things starts off with “Sons & Daughters” and the energy is picked up right away. I have to credit Gold who brings the goods on the drums with an impressively tight performance around an infectious groove. The vocals are anthemic, borderline cathartic with a sense of urgency and yearning. It felt like they were putting everything they could into the performances. They set the foundation with the first song and showed how dynamic they can be on “Wild Ones.” The song slowly builds, is torn down and in general experiments with intensity. There are also some serene moments such as around the three-minute mark. “So Much Weight” is a single worthy. The guitar riff as well as the vocals are memorable. Something about their energy at this point made we want too see them perform this live. They continue to have some success with the “New Crowned King” which is another with an almost limitless amount of energy that comes pouring through channels. Another highlight was “The Hours” which showcases the band's strengths. They go out with the self-titled track which is just as good as any song that came before it. The reason I have appreciated bands like Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade is because the emotion is on fire to a point where it's visceral. The same can be said about If/Then which seems to a new generation of like-minded bands. Recommended.
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