Album Review: Palehound, Eye On The Bat

BY PIXIE HOCKER

Palehound delivers blazing vulnerability with their new album Eye On The Bat. Produced by Sam Evian, who has worked with other artists like Big Thief and Widowspeak, Eye On The Bat will be out via Polyvinyl Record Co. on July 14th. This album fits the summer heat and is full of fiery, realistic queer love songs. El Kempner has released three singles with music videos in anticipation for Eye On The Bat including "The Clutch," "My Evil," and the latest, "Independence Day."

This is Palehound's best album yet, seeing as El Kempner has grown not only as a songwriter but also perfected the powerful riffs that are littered throughout their previously released music. The singles Palehound has released thus far represent the album fairly well, with each additional song as angsty and honest as the last.

A majority of the album is full of fast, in-your-face guitar solos, but slows down to allow for even more vulnerability for the last two tracks that are notably different from the rest of Eye On The Bat. The latest single, "Independence Day," is my favorite track overall, but some of my other favorites include "Route 22" along with the closer "Fadin."

To support this new release Palehound has announced a North American tour with support from Empath and alexalone, including a date in Durham at Motorco Music Hall supported by Empath on October 24th. I know I'll be there!

Happy Independence Day and stream Eye On The Bat on July 14th!

PIXIE HOCKER
Pixie Hocker has loved music for as long as they can remember and has gone to more concerts than she can count. Pixie is the Music Director at her college station 90.5 WASU-FM and hosts a bi-weekly specialty show at Boone Area Community Radio.