The Name Rings a Bell That Drowns Out Your Voice

Album Review

Hitting their stride after seven years of delivering the goods in the underground, Knievel shines on the understated The Name Rings a Bell That Drowns out Your Voice. Gentle harmonies drift along the lulling and quiet guitars with an easy grace, swirling around the harmonies with a deft simplicity. This is a beautiful slice of indie pop that benefits from a sparse songwriting style that emphasizes the melodies first and the individual instruments second. By cutting the fat, they only enhance the power of the ringing guitars and occasional ethereal strings that drive along the music. Knievel's moody sound calls to mind influences as far reaching as the Posies, Codeine, and Bettie Serveert, but does so with a distinct personal approach that is unmistakably their own. They've always been a dependable band, but The Name Rings a Bell That Drowns out Your Voice marks an artistic step forward that should appeal to fans of solid indie pop.