The Honeypot/That Poor Girl/Bitter Smoke Initiative

Fuzzy and nostalgic in all the right ways, Kalamazoo’s The Honey Pot trips into the druggy merger of pre- and post-grunge shoegaze. The band’s self-titled 2014 album moves patiently through moods (“patiently” being a key word here, as the musicians take their time with execution). The effect hits that dream-rock sweet tooth real nicely for those who are into such things. “Pushing Along” swings among tree branches of high-end accents and reverb-soaked progressions. The band volleys well between soft-loud dynamics throughout the album, furthering the whole hypnagogic vibe of everything. In “Music” (which clocks in at 3:11, probably coincidentally but probably not coincidentally), the garage-band ethos of The Honey Pot is in full swing, with crashing drums wrapping smoky strings in a nervous heartbeat. It’s a cool album from a band just up the road in Michigan. (Sandy)