It’s Karma It’s Cool – Thrift Store Troubadours
Earlier this year, Jim Styring of It’s Karma It’s Cool spoke with PPN about the band’s upcoming album, Thrift Store Troubadours. The band’s third LP, it follows Woke Up in Hollywood (one of this site’s faves of 2020) and the equally engaging Homesick For Our Future Destinations (2021). Officially released on June 2 of this year, the new album is everything Styring promised and then some.
While the influences we hear throughout Troubadours are too numerous to mention, the 70’s glam influence hits one almost immediately as with the albums third track, “Old Bones”. A monologue pulled from an old spaghetti western works as an intro and grabs the listener’s attention. Styring has used these kind of cultural references before. “Wooden Buddha”, a fantastic single from the band’s debut album, used a similar element to great effect. Getting back to “Old Bones”, a pounding beat and hooky chorus lead to some glorious, ringing guitars.
“Winter Coats” features a wonderfully catchy melody and the mandolin work of the one and only Peter Holsapple. The guitars are once again exquisite. Then, the band turns it up to 11 with the more uptempo “Broken Hearted Foundations”. Martyn Bewick’s guitars and Danny Krash’s drums steal the show on this one.
“Ghosts Wear Jeans” has Bowie written all over it and is perhaps my favorite on the LP. Styring sings with all the bravado of Ziggy Stardust, immediately drawing the listener in. As with the best IKIC songs, it hangs on a killer melody that will stay with you long after the first listen.
Get IKIC’s Thrift Store Troubadours
Get the new one from It’s Karma It’s Cool, Thrift Store Troubadours, at Apple Music, Amazon or anywhere fine music is sold.
