There are two types of people in this world. Those who like Sonic Youth and those who do not. You’re on board or you’re not. There really is no grey line. The sound established by bands like Sonic Youth and the Pixies is one of simplistic existentialism. There is a four chord progression that builds on every song that is not an illustration of a lack of skill, but merely a facet in which experimentation is released.

As an artist, you’re bound to become a product of your environment. If you grew up listening to experimental monotony, you’re bound to have the same effect. The latest case in point is Boy + Kite. A group formed out of a hot-tub and grown on ideas, this Texas foursome dished out the fruit of their labor in the form of Go Fly. The ten track debut album does more in title than in music. The title turns into more of a gleaming hope for the future than a witty idea, as it simply fails to get off the ground.

The foundation for each song is a simple riff-progression laden with effect, accompanied by your run-of-the-mill bass/snare combo. With that being said, I find myself having hope for them. Internal competition keeps their album from being titled We Grew Up Listening to the Pixies. Lead singer Darvin Jones’ drive for experimentation changes the landscape of what is otherwise a bland 45 minutes. Refusing to simply go with the flow, he has crafted his lyrics into catchy, albeit semi-rough, tracks. Aided by the intermittent singing of Beth Puorro the sense of a sound that has been done is unavoidable. The album is blurred by instruments, where differentiating songs can only be identified by pace.  Thematically, Go Fly carries the consistent idea of relationships, Jones states it’s “not necessarily girl-boy relationships but relationships in life.” Without being told what it is, picking apart a consistent theme here is like trying to name the members of Chumbawamba; without the internet; you’re lost.

The promise of what could have transpired on the debut falls short in manifestation. The platform that is Go Fly establishes a launch pad packed with potential where only production keeps the dynamic flat. As with Sonic Youth, you’re either going to like this or not because trapped under over production makes this one album that is hard to love.