The Capstan Shafts: Kind Empires

The Capstan Shafts
Kind Empires
Self-Released [2011]









Fire Note Says: Another batch of solid lo-fi from The Capstan Shafts!

Album Review:
Dean Wells, aka The Capstan Shafts, has been keeping lo-fi alive for 12 years now and on his new record Kind Empires, he once again gives you sharp and short bursts of blissful pop that will keep your feet tapping the whole time. With most of The Capstan Shafts songs clocking in under the two minute mark, Wells has a knack for placing something catchy in all his compositions so that they stick in your head. These pieces come in all shape and sizes, like the memorable guitar line in "Like Theme From 'Arthouse Floozy'" or the feedback explosion on "Come Wilder". Sometimes the album title is all you need to grab your attention, such as "Porn Name Equations" or "The Deli Girls Give Me What I Ask For...". Kind Empires follows the same full band sound that was found on last year's excellent Revelations Skirts [2010] and is a true testament to how lo-fi can come alive. At 14 songs in 22 minutes, there is no filler here on Kind Empires and The Capstan Shafts make it easy to get lost in their world. Dean Wells is a talented individual that keeps perfecting his sound, as Kind Empires once again showcases his knack for the lo-fi and is just another reason why you should definitely check this project out!

Key Tracks: "Come Wilder", "Porn Name Equations", "The Onetime Milwaukee Suicide", Less Together"

Bands With Similar Fire:
The Gifted Children
Guided By Voices
The Beets

The Capstan Shafts: Revelation Skirts [Fire Note Review 8/26/10] (#23 Top 50 2010)
The Capstan Shafts: Her Versus The Sad Cold Eventually [Fire Note Review 2/7/07]

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-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony