The prolific San Diego musician explores the many corners of his sonic palette on lush, introspective new LP
Few musicians are as deeply embedded in the San Diego music scene as Jordan Krimston. A prolific songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and engineer whose fingerprints can be found across countless local releases, Krimston has spent years cultivating an impressive musical résumé. From fronting bands like Big Bad Buffalo and Band Argument, drumming for emo favorites Oso Oso, and regularly performing with San Diego legends Weatherbox, Krimston has become something of a musical jack-of-all-trades. All the while, he's maintained a prolific solo output, including last year's excellent Count It All Joy. Now, he returns with Halcyon, perhaps his most fully realized and rewarding collection of songs yet.
A gorgeous distillation of Krimston's many creative impulses, Halcyon is a richly textured journey through jangly indie rock, alternative rock, and introspective singer-songwriter fare, with plenty of unexpected detours along the way. Across the record, thoughtful lyricism and beautiful vocal harmonies intertwine with lush arrangements of guitars, keyboards, and restless bass and drum rhythms, balancing melodic warmth with flashes of distortion and dissonance. The opening title track and fellow single “Good People Bad People” offer compelling entry points, while tracks like “Finch” and “Rain on Parades” wrangle angular guitar arpeggios, unpredictable time signatures, and quirky electronic flourishes to keep the album constantly shifting beneath the surface. There's even a cinematic instrumental interlude in “Coil,” before the record reaches an especially buoyant, widescreen conclusion with the stirring closer “No Crater.” Adventurous and deeply personal, Halcyon showcases Krimston's remarkable versatility without sacrificing the emotional core of his songwriting. It's an excellent addition to an already impressive catalog, and another reminder of the wealth of talent thriving in San Diego's independent music community. Give it a spin below!
