If
Little Spaces, the debut full-length by
American Princes, is any indication, Little Rock indeed rocks -- in an aggressive, indie style. Commencing with the soulful,
Spoon meets
Afghan Whigs feel of "I Want to Be Good," such aspirations yield scorchers like "Rock n Roll Singer" and "The Sun Never Sets," where jagged riffs and chaotic harmonies collide like a five-car pileup. Co-lead vocalists/guitarists David Slade and Collins Kilgore don't always slay, however, with "Man's World" sounding like a sluggish, atonal rant. They don't always shred, either, as the acoustic platform of "In the Dark" and the heartfelt, liquor-drenched "Providence, R.I." exhibit with stellar results. Simply put: a mostly kickass band. ~ John D. Luerssen