Spill’s Top Ten is ten top notch alt-rock jams

Top Ten may be Spill‘s first album, but it’s certainly not the first for the ex-Placeholder members that comprise it. Fans of that band’s output will no doubt find a lot to love here, as Top Ten delivers an ample supply of heavy riffs and emo catharsis track after track. It’s came out Friday, and you can stream it below.

The album kicks off with lead single “Can’t Keep Cool”, a bouncy rocker with a singalong chorus. This track sets the tone for the rest of the album, balancing playful self-deprecation with serious self-reflection, and the equally sunny “Keep Coming” follows suit. Whether its the sludgy indie rock of “All Right” or the pop rock of “Feels Too Good”, the band approaches 90s guitar music with a modern eye. It’s this variety of styles that keeps things from sounding too referential, but it’s all tied together by the unhinged vocal delivery of Brandon Gepfer, who hits some impressive high notes on tracks like the urgent “So Bright”.

After that explosive track comes the slow burn hangover of “Turn Around” (not that “Turn Around”), but then it’s right back to the alt-rock jams with “You Know It’s True” and “Empty”. Then, they cap off the album on a high note with the fun, triumphant “Stop Drinking My Beer”. Spill may have emerged from the ashes of another band, but Top Ten sounds like the start of something new and exciting for the Lancaster musicians.

Spill will headline Boot & Saddle next Tuesday, December 20th with Thin Lips, Straw Hats, Kississippi (solo), and Seasonal. For tickets and more information, head over to XPN’s Concert Calendar.