SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PACKS – MELT THE HONEY

PACKS
MELT THE HONEY
FIRE TALK

Although Toronto’s Madeline Link is the person that operates as PACKS, the moniker actually covers a full band which includes Dexter Nash on guitar, Noah O’Neil on bass, and Shane Hooper on drums.

Still, on Link and the band’s second album Melt the Honey, it is Link’s penchant for great lo-fi/bedroom pop melodies that permeates the proceedings. Maybe the reason the songs work here lies in the surroundings where the album was recorded (Mexico City), maybe it is Link’s and the bands obvious talents, but the songs work and stick to the ear – whether it is the unabashed pop of “Honey” or the loud, guitar driven instrumental of “AmyW” but Link and her band seem to have that mutual understanding that is very often essential to make the music work.

“My bandmates are like my brothers,” Link says. “For me, the whole point of being a band is to have fun making music. I don’t like a studio environment where you’re under a time constraint or financial constraint and no one is enjoying themselves.”

And throughout, it is obvious that Link and the band did enjoy themselves while recording this album, probably another reason it works so well.

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