Sharp Pins - Balloon Balloon Balloon Review
It seems as if Sharp Pins took to an intensive study of the history of British rock and punk greats, presenting the album as a thorough post-grad level dissertation on the subject, adding a youthful take on the sound of yesteryear.
As the first notes of ‘Popagangout’ rang out, I scrambled to hit pause. I knew this was an opportunity to take Sharp Pins’ new record, Balloon Balloon Ballon, out on a walk. The day was the first truly cold day of the year and by the sound of the first track, it was one to be spent outside on a rare sunny London morning. I trekked toward one of my newly favourite spots in the city, Hampstead Heath, and clicked play again. I was instantly transported into a nostalgic 60s Britain.
Despite feeling rather British, Sharp Pins hails from the DIY rock scene of Chicago, USA. It is the solo-project of musician Kai Slater, who is also the guitarist/vocalist of the band Lifeguard. Slater’s project Sharp Pins is a melding of bright, jangly guitar riffs, with nostalgic and melodic vocals. Slater’s music is not only nostalgic, his image is also reminiscent of 60s rock-n-roll and particularly British. The project definitely plays a holistic homage to the sound of the beginnings of rock-n-roll.
Balloon Balloon Balloon, set to be released November 21, 2025 via K Records, is the latest Sharp Pins installment following albums Radio DDR and Turtle Rock. The new album still embodies Slater’s self-defined mantra of “Youth Revolution”. The album follows a similar punchy, jangly guitar forward sound of the previous albums, but sounds a bit more stripped back from the earlier albums. Nodding to more of the traditional 60s sound as opposed to the 90s lo-fi inputs on previous albums. The album also boasts 21 tracks, although tracks named ‘Balloon 1’ and ‘Balloon 2’ marking interludes, and ‘Balloon 3’ ending the album with some scratchy drums cassette tape sounds. If your tastes are more akin to the likes of Donovan and The Beatles, Balloon Balloon Balloon is a fresh new go-to album to satisfy your nostalgia, with a youthful spirit.
The album's single and the longest song on the album ‘(I Wanna Be Your Girl)’ gives off an analog pop feel with reverbing vocal harmonies, along with metallic carvings of catchy guitar progressions. The track definitely has a retro underpinning, as if you are listening to it through your grandparents old tape player. Tracks like ‘Stop to Say Hello’ and ‘Gonna Learn to Crawl’ follow a similar pattern. Sharp Pins pumps up the distortion with tracks like ‘I Don’t Have a Heart,’ ’(In a While) You’ll be Mine,’ and ‘Ex-Priest/In a Hole of a Home.’ Each reminiscent of punchy lyrics and drums, fitting for 60s dance halls. ‘Serene Haus of Hair’ had me thinking of The Beatles and a few tracks later with ‘Takes So Long’, I felt like I was dancing to the beats of The Clash. It seems as if Sharp Pins took to an intensive study of the history of British rock and punk greats, presenting the album as a thorough post-grad level dissertation on the subject, adding a youthful take on the sound of yesteryear.
‘Maria Don’t,’ is the album's most acoustic and lyrically raw track. The track shows Slater’s versatility moving from vocals hidden within crunchy guitar chords and drums, to a softer track where he really wants you to hear what he is saying and feeling. The track seems deeply personable. “Oh Maria don’t hide yourself away,” was one line that struck me as I was atop the Heath overlooking Central London. The following track ‘Crown of Thorns’ follows suit with introspective lyricism but rather than acoustic, Sharp Pins returns to the scratchy tape recorder sounds. I will say the last two tracks somewhat left me wanting to hear more of the acoustic side of Sharp Pins. But overall, it’s definitely an album I will listen to again, especially on walks out in London.
So on November 21, take Balloon Balloon Balloon with you on a long and cold British walk.