Naked Skull - Naked Skull - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Naked Skull is the project of Los Angeles vocalist/guitarist Kirk Nebel, who is a former member of the Portland band 17 Reasons Why, and current member of the Hollywood based alt-rock band Radius, which has had numerous songs licensed for use in network television shows, commercials (Victoria's Secret) and movies on ABC, CBS, and syndicated programs (Prince William, AFP). After spending the majority of his musical career as a lead/rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist, Kirk spent a good portion of 2002 involved in the process of writing and recording the tracks for this record, for which he performs all vocal and guitar parts (with the exception of one song). Produced by Portland native Chris Nolan, the majority of the record has a definite acoustic indie-rock sound, with several of the tracks veering into a heavier layered power-pop sound. Melodic, tight song arrangements predominate, and Kirk's breathy vocal qualities are reminiscent of artists such as Elliott Smith and Bob Mould - combined with the textured guitar sounds of bands such as Coldplay, Vertical Horizon, and Travis. Bittersweet lyrics echo the sting of lost relationships â? yet the music has an upbeat and resolved sound that serves as an apt counter-balance to the melancholy words.