Koria Kitten Riot is an indie rock band from Helsinki, Finland. They have been recording and touring for a while. Their fourth album, Songs of Hope and Science, is due for release on the 27th of January 2017.
KKR combines indie rock with singer-songwriter Americana to create a sound that’s as pleasantly melodic as it is thoughtfully written. Their influences include Elliott Smith, Sufjan Stevens, Bright Eyes, Nick Drake, Damien Rice and The Flaming Lips.
The mid-2000s was a great time for cheerful, instrument-stuffed indie-pop music. Bands like Annuals, Decemberists, Grandaddy, and the Shins were releasing giddy, indie-pop tunes with a distinctly modern sound that was more sprightly and infectious than your standard radio fare.
That genre was often overlooked by the mainstream, but it’s still a very strong one. Rich Men Poor Men Good Men, the debut LP from Finnish indie-pop band koriakittenriot, is just that kind of record.
They play a mix of guitar-driven indie rock and singer-songwriter Americana, with their lyrical style reminiscent of Elliott Smith, Wilco, and early Weezer. They recorded the album in Berlin, with Doug Van Sloan (Bright Eyes, She & Him) handling the mastering.
The album opens with Suits & Evening Gowns, an indie-rock song that ventures into Death Cab For Cutie territory. Cold Cold Arms features a bit of a Bright Eyes sound, and the title track is another highlight. The rest of the album is just as well-constructed. Lead singer Antti Reikko has a knack for bringing out the character and emotion of each track, while also ensuring that you’re always aware of where they’re coming from.