Boston indie rock duo Main Spark, the long-running artistic partnership of Mark Goodman and Brian Charles, return with their sophomore album Stroll Among the many Poppies, a 10-track assortment that blends classic grit, lyrical sincerity, and rebellious positivity. Main the way in which is “The Different Facet”, a powerhouse single that embodies the whole lot the band does greatest: spirited hooks, fearless exploration, and a message of resilience.
Fashioned out of many years of collaboration, Main Spark thrives on pushing sonic boundaries whereas protecting one foot firmly rooted in rock custom. Goodman, whose résumé consists of founding the band Magnet and dealing alongside Moe Tucker (The Velvet Underground) and David Lowery (Camper Van Beethoven), brings a songwriter’s grit and emotional readability. Charles, a sought-after producer and engineer identified for his work with Dispatch, Marina and the Diamonds, and Weakened Buddies, offers a sonic playground by means of his Cambridge-based Uncommon Alerts studio, the place classic analogue gear meets stressed experimentation.
That dynamic is straight away evident in “The Different Facet”. Constructed round a looped Moe Tucker drum half lifted from Magnet’s “Julie” (Don’t Be a Penguin), the monitor’s propulsive momentum is each uncooked and uplifting. It’s indie rock with a pulse of humanity, carrying echoes of rock’s previous whereas pointing firmly ahead.
Whereas their 2021 debut, Stunning Noise, wandered throughout dance-pop, surf rock, and experimental detours, Stroll Among the many Poppies feels extra centered with out sacrificing selection. The album threads collectively loops, layered textures, and spontaneous performances right into a cohesive entire. Duets with Miranda Serra (“Be My Key” and “Again in Time”) lend tenderness and distinction, whereas Tom West’s improvised piano shines on the twangy, off-kilter “Take It Too Far.” Every monitor feels rigorously crafted but alive with spontaneity, a stability that displays the duo’s seasoned partnership.
What ties the report collectively is its undercurrent of optimism. Even when wrestling with battle and imperfection, Main Spark method their craft with heat and defiance. With sharp melodies, textured preparations, and fearless genre-blending, Stroll Among the many Poppies invitations listeners to step right into a world the place vulnerability and empowerment coexist.
With Stroll Among the many Poppies, Main Spark don’t simply revisit their indie roots, they reinvent them, creating an album that feels each timeless and freshly pressing.