Family Afloat

This Chicago fivesome--composed of buddies Bobby Gallivan (guitar/vocals), Dan Radzicki (bass), Dan Fleury (guitar), and Evan Sult (drums), along with featured vocalist Janie Porsche--is the brightest new addition to the Windy City's Flameshovel roster. Part catchy mid-period Superchunk and part herky-jerky Joan Of Arc, A FAMILY AFLOAT is a joyous, ramshackle affair, with a surprising amount of near-shoegazey sheen to go with all that jolly jangle. There are moments where things settle down, however. (After all, everyone needs to take a breather from all that high energy.) But FAMILY manages to stay AFLOAT even during subtler interludes like "Clear Water & Concrete." A blast of fun throughout, Bound Stems' sophomore effort is dense with buoyant melodies and guy-girl vocal exchanges between the Conor Oberst-esque Gallivan and sweet-sounding Porsche.