CD Review: Division Day's Beartrap Island

Division Day, the indie pop band hailing from Santa Cruz and formed in 2001, is out with their debut full length album, Beartrap Island, a combination of echoey sounds, exciting drums, and catchy choruses. Originally from northern California the band makes its home in Los Angeles now, more specifically Eagle Rock's "rock block" - the neighborhood known for its numerous recording studios and rehearsal spaces.

Known for their relentless touring and somewhat mischevious behavior like being expelled from Canada for a year and locked up in a Spokane jail for a night, Division Day is coming to Los Angeles soon enough to play the Sunset Junction Music Festival on August 18th (they're on at 12:40).

The main attraction of Beartrap Island is the incredible drum sound by Kevin Lenhart which drives the album from beginning to end. Lead singer Rohner Segnitz's voice isn't the most unique or powerful I've heard, but the pacing of the record, the drums, and the hooks have one barely noticing. Highlights from Beartrap include "Ricky" an upbeat 80's ish pop tune, "Huuricane" which is pretty and melodic, and "Hand to Sound" an echoey song that reminded me of the Beach Boys, but the Beach Boys on a grey and cloudy day. Overall, the record is diverse and interesting, and word on the street is they're great to see live.

Check Division Day out August 18th at Sunset Junction Music Festival

Photo provided by Division Day's official website