Release Date: Aug 23, 2005
Record label: Merge
Genre(s): Indie, Rock
Rock*A*Teens frontman Chris Lopez returns with Tenement Halls, and their first album is both a departure from and a continuation of the earlier group's sound. The Rock*A*Teens were distinguished by the almost impossible amount of reverb they drenched their songs with, the gripping quality of Lopez's songs, and his keening wail of a vocal. On Knitting Needles & Bicycle Bells, Lopez (who plays all the instruments except for drums on a couple of songs and produced as well) peels back the reverb to human levels and adds lots of organ and piano, percussion, and acoustic guitar to brighten the room and add texture.