Starter Jackets bandmates Lanny Durbin (Local Drags) and Luke McNeill (The Copyrights) have each other on speed dial and are always writing or recording something. So it’s no surprise that they’ve teamed up again for another project: Knife Proof Earmuffs. Their debut album is a collection of songs they had lying around in various stages of completion—polished up in Luke’s Springfield (Illinois) studio with help from friends Schy Willmore and Alyssa Currie.

Sonically, Knife Proof Earmuffs marks a bit of a departure for McNeill but feels like a natural extension of Durbin’s recent Local Drags work. It’s indie rock and power pop with hints of alt-country and pop punk, yet it doesn’t quite fit neatly into any of those boxes. It’s not particularly loud or fast, but not quiet or slow either—just two pop punk lifers taking a laid-back approach, switching things up, and trying out different styles. Give it a spin—you might find it as enjoyable as I do!

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp