mikal cronin’s bay area brand of diy ethos has yielded two appropriately sunny and surprisingly complex solo albums thus far: a self-titled in 2011 and 2013’s mcii. he’ll follow up with mciii on may 5th with the help of merge records, an album that’s slated to be particularly ambitious if its second single is any indication. “ii) gold” is reportedly the second part of a six-song cycle found in the back half of mciii, a bruising piece of power-pop that pounds away incessantly before shifting gears towards an unexpected acoustic breakdown. it’s the kind of nuanced songwriting that’s come to be expected of cronin, but it’s still a treat to witness it happen. spin “ii) gold” below.
Dimestore Saints 