Album Review: Counting Spins

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Local musicians Clap Clap Riot have just released their debut album Counting Spins. The boys, originally from Christchurch, have spent the last year working hard on the album and it has paid off, with a 12 awesome songs with a sweet sounding Kiwi slant.

You’ve probably heard quite a few of the tracks from Counting Spins before, as Clap Clap Riot bought out four tracks before releasing the album. The first was Everyone’s Asleep, which came out in March 2011. It’s the one that starts with a whole lot of clapping (kind of cute irony there, huh?) before kicking into a sweet chorus. The second song to receive some air time is Yoko Ono, and this is my favourite song off their album. It’s a great rock song which kicks off hard and fast and has a nice comparison to relationships like the one between Mr and Mrs John Lennon. Whether you feel partial to Yoko Ono or not, Clap Clap Riot turn her name into a great song.

You might also recognise Moss-Haired Girl, which was released in late 2011. With a similar sound to Yoko Ono, I feel this is the direction Clap Clap Riot want their songs to take – and it is a damn fine direction to take. Finally, So You Say came out earlier this year; it’s the track you probably best recognise and starts off with some strings before, again, kicking into a heavier chorus which is fast becoming Clap Clap Riot’s signature sound.

In saying this, the rest of the album follows in a similar suit and there isn’t a lot of variation between the tracks. Everyone’s Asleep is probably the track which takes the biggest detour from common sound. However, because it is their first album and a new sound for New Zealand, Counting Spins still manages sounds fresh, you can forgive Clap Clap Riot not putting in too much variation into their tracks. I especially recommend checking out Never Go Back and, for something a tad more upbeat, Lie.

Thanks to a few good contacts in the New Zealand music industry, Clap Clap Riot had some help making the album sound so good. The most significant of these is said to be Jimmy Christmas, lead singer and brain child of The D4 and Luger Boa. Christmas knows how to make an album sound good and helped Clap Clap Riot on their EP. I wouldn't be surprised if Clap Clap Riot retained his advice, and some other local music greats, to bring Counting Spins up the level it is. 

Overall, Counting Spins is a great debut album which you can't help but like; everyone I’ve talked to has nothing but good things to say. It is fair to say Clap Clap Riot are still finding their footing in the industry, and I can’t wait to see where they’re heading next.