Sincere Engineer has that sharp Chicago punk rock sound down pat, complete with brilliantly depressed storytelling that sprints through tales of heartbreak and shoddy self-repair. Frontwoman Deanna Belos’ earnest vocal approach makes her sound like she’s right at the top of her range on every song. And she filters her diary-like lyrics through punchy, hook-laden riffs that sound like they’re being performed from a finished basement somewhere in the Midwest. Like most good punk rock it has the sing-a-long capabilities. But most importantly it’s a record about losing yourself and having the guts to claw back piece by piece. It’s an art form that will never go out of style. Don’t let the length of this review fool you – Cheap Grills is one of those albums that I already can tell I’m going to return to consistently over the next few months.
Standout Songs: “Anemic”, “California King”, “Old Coat Pocket”, “Library of Broken Bindings”, “Fireplace”
