VINTAGE CROP – Kibitzer – LP – Sky Blue Vinyl

LP – Limited EditionSky Blue Vinyl. Only 400 copies pressed in this edition.

Geelongs favourite sons Vintage Crop return this winter with their much-anticipated fourth album, Kibitzer. Running with the ball that 2020s Serve To Serve Again punted forward, this album marks another energetic break towards the goal for Vintage Crop. Kibitzer sees the band define their field of play, more melodic at times, still bruising, forever droll. These ten tracks of snappy as elastic punk are packed with tensile riffs, hefty beats and witty refrains of everyman curiosity.

Kibitzer was written in quick response to their critically lauded Serve To Serve Again album. Harsh guitars, a brutish rhythm section and a knack for always having the right words at hand are still abundant, but this time Vintage Crops songs expand upon their forceful nature with greater harmonic arrangement. It was recorded by Jasper Jolley in one single session on a former apple orchard in Geelong, a backdrop that mirrors the bands own organic growth whilst highlighting their willingness to approach capturing their own sound their own way. The album was then mixed and mastered by Mikey Young.

Kibitzer delves into themes of identity, resilience and acceptance; some of the more upbeat notions that the band have dealt with to date. Casting Calls opens the record, slamming through the speakers with gusto and setting the tone for the following 30 minutes. Its rolling, were rolling, were winding back the tape, were getting better with each take sings lead songwriter Jack Cherry. Accepting your limitations and taking pride in your work are key themes on Kibitzer. In fact ideas around learning, growing and being able to take things in your stride are strongly felt through their entire body of work. These themes hit home with the albums title too, with Cherry feeling that Kibitzer is an apt way to describe a lot of the bands focus. I feel like a lot of our lyrics over the years have been our unsolicited opinions on other peoples situations, the very definition of the word Kibitzer. So for this record we wanted to lean into that tendency by acknowledging it and even go as far as stamping it on the album cover.

Musically the band have expanded their palette on this album; exploring a world of rhythmic harmony and newfound vocal melodies. Theres also greater lyrical elaboration and considered song structures at play. The Duke is a mob of rollicking chants and heavy hitting, catchy to the core. The Bloody War is a more sanguine reflection of tumbling drums, struck chords and shrill keyboard warble. Hes got the keys to the universe and theyre hanging from his belt loop, his wit is as quick as lightning, his disapproving gaze is the thunder that follows pipes Cherry on Double Slants, guitars chiming through the hubbub. Hold The Line turns the wry amusement of dealing with cold callers into a fidgety anthem of knowing frustration. Whilst Switched Off even welcomes the introduction of horns (courtesy of Heidi Peel) to the groups repertoire, ushering in an unexpected serenity into their tough sound.

Kibitzer is the giant leap forward Vintage Crop have been striving for; but you dont need our unsolicited opinion on that, listen yourself, put it on repeat!

Tracklist:

01. Casting Calls
02. The Duke
03. Double Slants
04. Hold The Line
05. Impact Of Wisdom
06. Drafted
07. The Bloody War
08. 2K Hip Pocket
09. Under Offer
10. Switched Off