Normally, I don’t particularly enjoy Indie Pop music. But I just can’t seem to get enough of the local Michigan Indie Pop band PK Fire. Hailing from Canton, Michigan, the five piece band consists of guitarist Kurtis Roy, keyboardist Paul Cherewick, bassist Taylor Jeffers, drummer Nick Galli, and new guitarists Andrew Adams. After falling in love with their first EP Cardboard Box Friends, I was inexplicably happy at the news of them releasing their new EP These Bleak Weeksand after listening to it I was even more so.

Now down to business with the review.

Pk Fire’s first EP Cardboard Box Friends had a very interesting sound using banjos with their guitar and keyboards which brought a very folk indie pop feel. It was a little on the slow side but still enjoyable. These Bleak Weeks however takes on a different approach for the band, and personally I think it was for the better. They don’t utilize the banjo but instead add another guitar and add a little more on the electronic side which gives the EP a fast pace and when you hit they end you want more. Which is always a good thing for musicians.

The first track on the EP, “The Flood Came”, is a slow intro to the EP but it helps prepare you for what the rest of the tracks will be like. It’s slow,sweet, and smooth and the vocals give a nice rasp to the sound of the song. It’s almost  like drinking apple cider…but for your ears. The song is very chill and relaxes you in the short time that it plays. Overall the perfect opening track as it leads into the next song perfectly.

“Cards In Hand” dives straight into an electronic jamboree that makes you want to do a little jig. The pacing of the song is fast and gives off a very feel good vibe. The vocals however may be what makes this song my second favorite on the EP. The power behind the words is so stirring its almost as if they were your own.

“She’s History” is the third track on the EP and is this reviewers personal favorite. It begins with a quick guitar part that is full of energy and then backs off for the verse and slowly builds up again before dipping off again. This pattern moves through the song and then at the end becomes an amazing dance between the guitars. The song doesn’t last long but leaves that lasting impression after a master piece, “Man, that was a good song.”

The fourth track, “Your New Apartment”, feels like a fusion of the previous tracks while adding more of an instrumental part. In fact I think the vocals of this song take away from the smooth feel of the instruments. The end of the song has a great fast pace pickup with the drums leading the guitars. Which is a fitting ending to the song because it leads into the last track, “A Pleasant Peninsula.”

If it were not for “She’s History” then “A Pleasant Peninsula” would be my favorite song by PK Fire. The smooth sound of the guitar throughout the song is like water flowing calmly in a stream, utterly relaxing. The slow keyboard adds another layer to the song like the warm sun on a cool day. The vocals are soft and reassuring which keeps the smooth feel of the song. And then there is the powerful instrumental at the very end of the song. Unlike in “Your New Apartment” where the instruments just pickup, “A Pleasant Peninsula” builds steadily and then explodes as if it were pure emotion emitting from the track.

These Bleak Weeks Album Cover

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this EP. It was quicker paced than their last which was something I had been hoping for. The vocals of all the songs had strong voice and emotion instead of the whisperish feel in Cardboard Box Friends. The guitar was much more prominent than in CBF and gave this EP a much fuller sound. Even if Indie Pop isn’t your thing, I know its not mine, you may still want to give this EP a listen because it is damn good.

Most bands that come out with EP’s tend to not change their sound or simply just don’t make another one. This is not the case with Pk Fire. They have come a long way musically since Cardboard Box Friends and I hope they continue to grow. If you enjoy indie pop music then PK Fire’s These Bleak Weeks is a must have and will be out on itunes later this month. Pre-order your copy now.

Rating: 10/10

1. “The Flood Came”
2. “Card In Hand”
3. “She’s History”
4. “Your New Apartment”
5. “A Pleasant Peninsula”