Kinch (B-)

Collars and Sleeves EP

Self-Released

Released September 2009

Kinch is a band that defies genres, to say the least. The Phoenix band’s latest EP, Collars and Sleeves, a collection of songs about love and the struggle to maintain it — or escape it ­— is hard to pin down stylistically. The EP contains four tracks, each one dramatically different in both style and instrumentation.

The catchy opening track, “”John Adams”” is a piano-heavy, driving tune, with a sound akin to Ben Folds’. The next track, “”Carolina Cannonball,”” keeps heavy rhythmic baselines, but is more musically complicated. The lead singer repeats the chorus “”I guess I should have kept my/I guess I should have kept my/I guess I should have kept my eyes closed”” as the electric guitar and bass pound in the background, creating a much more mainstream pop sound.

“”Girl, You’re Gonna Learn to Mind”” is the slowest track on the EP, with a deconstructed composition. As the lead singer croons about his love’s over-appreciation of him, the guitar and bass build into an almost unbearable clatter, at which point the track ends. The transition to the last song, “”Tie Me Lightly,”” is very abrupt and not very logical, though it does seem to combine all the elements of the first three tracks, a mix of lyric piano, pop drums and energetic vocals. This is a fleeting moment of cohesion for the band.

Overall, Collars and Sleeves is worth a listen, especially given the band’s Arizona roots. However, Kinch’s sound is so varied from track to track that the band’s style is difficult to hold on to. The EP sounds more like a collection of tracks than a cohesive album. Still, the album is worth a listen, and Kinch is worth your attention.

Kinch is on tour and will play at Club Congress today. Doors open at 7:30 p.m, with the band scheduled to play at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door.