It must be mighty pleasant around the No Sleep Records headquarters. The indie label, stationed out of Huntington Beach, California, has been on quite a roll recently with the success of bands such as Balance And Composure, Into It. Over It., Koji, La Dispute, Tigers Jaw, and Touché Amoré. One can consider Albany, New York indie rock septet, Aficionado, a member of that aforementioned list. With the release of their new self-titled record, Aficionado is poised for an indie-rock takeover. 

It becomes quite evident after one listen to Aficionado’s first track, “The Things You Like,” that the group is a full septet, as all seven members show off their chops. “The Things You Like” is anchored by the quick percussions of Mark O’Brien, the blazing guitar riffs of James Kehoe and Chris Tenerowicz—who also happens to be the band’s official mandolin and trumpet player—as well as the smartly placed keys of Craig Dutra and soulful groove courtesy of bassist Chris Kehoe, all supporting the wonderful harmonization of Nick Warchol and Laura Carrozza. This multi-instrumental attack is present on every track on Aficionado. Yet, the listener is often caught off guard by what the group presents. Whether it is a flute breakdown courtesy of Carrozza (“Everything Was Right” and “Confidence Is Intimidating”) that is straight out of the Jethro Tull playbook or a glam rock guitar solo (“Honesty”), there is never a dull moment on Aficionado.

Lyrically, themes ranged from hipster-bashing realism, found on tracks such as the aforementioned “The Things You Like” and “Honesty”, to life advice (“Grandfather”) and everywhere in between. “Confidence is intimidating // don’t give yourself to the things you’re saying to me // and when you talk, talk soft // you’ll be better off,”  Warchol croons on “Confidence Is Intimidating.” It’s the hauntingly honest acoustic track “Permanent” which is worth the price of the entire record. Over a modest guitar, Warchol delves into his childhood and his insecurities. “When I was just a kid // I wished that I could be permanent // and my bones would shake // at the thought of change,” Warchol sings, “I remember hearing fables // about a fountain to make us ageless // a phony sense of security and confidence // we are not permanent.”

Aficionado is a heady, yet heavy, experience from start to finish. While some may consider it too avant-garde for one specific scene, the true beauty of the record is hidden beneath its copious layers. Now, this is not to say that the album is without faults. On the contrary, Aficionado’s missteps help remind the listener of the room for improvement that the band faces. For instance, the group would benefit from tightening their sound a bit as they can become a slightly eccentric and unruly at times. As well, it would be downright lovely to hear more of Carrozza’s unique and refreshing vocals. However, these faults are found by nitpicking the intricate strands of the album. With the release of their self-titled record, Aficionado can firmly assert that they have released a triumphant piece of art that will solidify the group as a beacon of hope in an ever-diluted musical world—not to mention continuing those pleasant vibes back at the No Sleep Records offices.

★★★★☆

*This review was composed by Mike Meeze