If you’re looking for a cheerful, instrument-stuffed, indie-pop album, look no further than Rich Men Poor Men Good Men from Finnish quintet koriakittenriot. Fronted by singer-songwriter Antti Reikko, the band has a sound that reminds me of bands such as Bright Eyes and the Shins, but KKR have their own unique take on this style.
Songwriting is a major strength of KKR, and Reikko has a knack for putting together well-crafted pop songs that exude charm. They have an intimate feel and a grandiose arrangement, with a lot of attention to detail.
The music itself has a light-hearted quality, but it still manages to touch on serious matters with a sense of humour. The theme of hope is explored throughout the album and reflects that even in difficult times, there are reasons to be hopeful.
With influences ranging from Elliott Smith to Sufjan Stevens, the band’s sound is as eclectic as it is thoughtful. It’s not as hard-edged as some of their contemporaries but it has a real depth to it.
It’s a real pleasure to listen to the songs here and they can help me escape from the world when I need it. They can also help me forget about the everyday stresses that sometimes get me down, and give me something to focus on instead.
This is a band that I would like to see more of. Hopefully, I’ll be able to catch them live in the near future, as I really enjoyed their debut LP.