The Spinto Band

Moonwink (Park the Van)

There’s an undeniably ramshackle charm to the Spinto Band, an unbridled exuberance that parallels the early work of labelmates Dr. Dog on an endless sugar high. The Delaware sextet blitzes through jittery pop tunes at breakneck speed behind Nick Krill’s breathless trill, but Moonwink‘s fervent frenzy never allows the songs to hit with any substantive impact. “Later On” opens with a reeling, loungey swirl, while “The Carnival” and “Needlepoint” bounce in a dizzying dervish, and the shouted harmonies of “Summer Grof” mark the album’s high point. “They All Laughed,” mellows slightly, but it’s a brief reprieve before “Pumpkins & Paisley” explodes in a flurry of la la las. There’s a lot to love about the Spinto Band, but it’s a fine line the band treads between catchy quirkiness and spastic annoyance. (3:20pm, Stage 1.)

**.5

This article appears in November 7 • 2008.

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Doug Freeman has been writing for the Austin Chronicle since 2007, covering the arts and music scene in the city. He is originally from Virginia and earned his Masters Degree from the University of Texas. He is also co-editor of The Austin Chronicle Music Anthology, published by UT Press.