pampelmoose Dave Allen of Gang of Four’s Music and Media Blog — music . media . web. culture

It’s a testament to how the nomenclature used to define music in a technology-driven market when an album as clear and punchy as this, the debut release by Harlem Shakes guitarist Todd Goldstein, is slapped in reviews and in press releases with the modifier “lo-fi”.

It’s also a testament to just how easy it is for someone to record a brilliant-sounding album with just a laptop and a microphone, as Kids Aflame was apparently constructed. The power of GarageBand compels Goldstein and the result is a sharp indie pop album tinted with the smoky sound of ’70s Americana.

There is little to connect this solo effort to Goldstein’s other band, save for warm, spare guitar lines. Apart from the slinky disco beat that accompanies (appropriately) “Shitty Little Disco”, the electro and African-inspired zig-zagging of the Shakes is left to the side. Taking pointers from fellow Tri-State groups like The Feelies and Yo La Tengo, this is music filled with driving rhythms and purposeful guitar strumming, custom built for long highway drives rather than halting city driving.

Goldstein lets up on the pedal here and there, blowing the dust of his acoustic guitar and letting it swim all over the plaintive moments on the album. Combined with the abstract lyrics on matters of the heart spun out over the top, this meandering tone gives a bit of a modern Daniel Johnston feel to these tracks.

Calling this disc lo-fi likely signifies the no-frills quality of the recording. In those terms, I will gladly agree with ARMS’ publicity department. In an age of high gloss hi-fi and audio wizardry, it’s emboldening to hear a lean, stripped down album like this. May he never see the inside of a modern recording studio.