Album Review: I Love Lightning Bugs "Kensington"

Having seen I Love Lightning Bugs (ILLB) play live more than a few times and observing their magical meld of 90's brit-pop guitar, soaring vocals and bouncing basslines, I've been eagerly anticipating the chance to hear their music on a format I can listen to outside of the clubs.Starting things off with a brilliant blast of guitar on "What I Deserve", ILLB's "Kensington" quickly answers the question that they are indeed as good in studio as they are live. In fact, there's a shiny polish applied to the songs on "Kensington" that take the fine vocals of Reid McCLellan to new heights. The hobbling bassline of "Not the Hopeless Kind" evolves into an inspiring singalong track with touch a of shoegaze.
I'll give you a couple of comparisons that give you a some idea of ILLB's sound, imagine capturing Pavement's most accessible moments and crossing them with epic sensibilities of Echo and the Bunnymen. The guitar sparkles and the rhythm chugs along where the band sounds just as comfortable with a slow tempo, check "The Last Time," as they do with the faster moving tracks like "Breathless."  You can find "Kensington" on iTunes, Amazon and bunch of other places, doesn't matter where you get it, just be sure you do. Also, be sure to check ILLB this Friday, Dec. 9th at the Rustbelt Market in Ferndale.

Here are soundcloud links to 2 tracks:
 "Not The Hopeless Kind"   http://soundcloud.com/illb-2/hopeless-kind
"Stars" http://soundcloud.com/illb-2/stars