I’ve been a champion of Olympia’s Kickball for, like, 3 or 4 years now (whenever it was that I first heard “Stop ?” (still my favorite Kickball track (as yet)), and I’m so delighted that they’re still rollin’ along. They’ve just finished up their 4th release, Everything Is A Miracle Nothing Is A Miracle Everything Is, and have it up for sale now on their Myspace. I bought it without pause, because I am sure I will love it. I think The Stranger nailed it in their recent review when they said,

“There is something elementally ‘Washington’ about Kickball’s sound. They vaguely hark back to Long Drive–era Modest Mouse, something organic the band emits that is instinctively easy to understand and embrace.”

I think that’s pretty right-on, because Kickball really do keep the spirit of the “old” days going. They are one of the few bands out there today who still manage to conjure up that spark.

::: Kickball – Underground Husbands :::
::: Kickball – Polar Bears :::

Kickball’s currently in the midst of a huge backporch / backyard / basement / BART Station tour, along with their French pals, Clara Clara, who sound like Hemstad covering Oneida inside a Nintendo.

::: Clara Clara – Dans Mon Smoking :::