Wouldn’t you say that most of what falls under the indie-rock tag can occasionally feel too serious, as if great art can only be accomplished by writing brooding poetry and exhaustive introspection? Sometimes, a great song can communicate a bevy of emotions by hitting the gut instead of the head. And Echo Park sextet Sanglorians achieve this by invoking high-energy melodies and sweetly muscular guitars that rush in like a skydiver plunging headfirst into a vertical dive. The incredibly infectious band decree big moments with ascending notes and blistering fret work, gushing with celebratory harmonies that vibrate with life. One may misconstrue these descriptions as silly or witless, but the plain truth about their debut effort, Initiation, is that its uptempo anthems are aesthetically unified and smartly arranged. This is power pop or the highest order with a bit of an orchestral slant, peppered with a bit of glam metal excess, as if Marshall Crenshaw and the Young Brothers collaborated together to reimagine an Electric Light Orchestra record. It surprisingly works, and its technical riffs and major-key dynamics are merely small elements that contribute to an all-encapsulating experience that is pulsating with life-affirming zeal. – Juan Rodríguez
