Kissing Party is the self-styled “slop pop” band from Denver that formed during the heyday of the wave of indie rock that came to prominence in the mid-to-late 2000s. The band’s sound early on and even to the current moment might be considered in the realm of twee pop except the group has had two guitarists for years but whose interplay has meant lush and delicate melodies that compliment the gentle exuberance of the songwriting and passionate live shows. What is “Slop Pop”? According to the band’s bio it’s “a perfectly blended chaos of dream pop, shoegaze & beach goth. But fans of Belle & Sebastian, Sarah Records and C86 bands and Denver indiepop from the 90s will find Kissing Party’s earnest sentiments, refreshingly and completely lacking in irony, and exquisitely crafted melodies much to their liking.
Several releases over nearly two decades has proven Kissing Party adept at creating deceptively simple songs about love and life that offer genuine insight without coming off corny or insincere. Sure there is some humor on stage and you might catch a show that’s loose around the edges but the charm is in the humanity of the music and its presentation while taking care to give listeners accessible songs of substance. The latest album Graceless released on November 17 via the band’s own label BbyV Records and available for digital download and streaming. It is a particularly focused and emotionally wide-ranging record from the band yet still retains a freshness of spirit that has been a hallmark of its previous recorded output and sustained song to song with a sense that the whole album is an emotional journey rather than a collection of resonant pop songs. It feels like a creative next step for a group that has been consistent in quality throughout its career thus far. For those interested the band’s generous back catalog is still available and in a handful of cases on a physical format, each worth a listen and all of which has aged well because Kissing Party seems to tap into timeless themes and aesthetics.
Listen to our interview with band founder, primary songwriter, guitarist and vocalist Gregg Dolan on Bandcamp and follow Kissing Party at the links below along with a few music videos for the new album.
Queen City Sounds and Art 
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