Audible - Sunday Bell

Audible
Sunday Bell

I guess the first thing that struck me when hearing “Sunday Bell” from the band Audible was how much lead singer Mike Kennedy sounds like Blake Sennet (Rilo Kiley, The Elected). Now, I don’t put that much store in any powers of musical deduction, but after i got over the Sennet similarity I was thinking, man this sure sounds like good old school Matt Pond PA.

And sure enough, reading the bio for Audible we see that both Mike and bandmate Jim Kehoe were indeed in Matt Pond’s original lineup. Along with Mike’s girlfriend Kris Muller on bass and Mazarin’s Sean Byrne on drums, Audible continues that deliciously layered but wisely compact Philadelphia indie poprock sound blazed by MPPA, Bill Ricchini, and Mazarin.

“Sunday Bell” is a standout pop gem that gently tugs at melodies until they unfold in an expansive soundscape, saving heavier sounds for the end. This is where Audible really stands out, improving on your standard pop rock song without making it sound overblown like Queen. At times they remind me Trackstar, the aforementioned Rilo Kiley, and of course MPPA.

Two other tracks I heard off of the Sky Signal album were “October Song” which motors along in a similar way with what sounds like Ebow guitars, while “Five Pirates” is a little more dark with wavery tuned guitars and and almost creepy vibe to it. I think this is one of those bands that I’m in instant like with; it wasn’t too tough to convince me seeing as how I like all the bands that they’ve been associated with and/or sound like.

Audible website

by Bryan