Gauntlet Hair

This Denver experimental pop duo's self-titled debut is a compelling demonstration of their knack for headphones-friendly fist-pumpers. Though associated with their city's D.I.Y. art space Rhinoceropolis, they don't only hang out in the world of "avant" prefixes. Gauntlet Hair's self-titled debut is the most compelling demonstration yet of the band's knack for headphones-friendly fist-pumpers. Andy and Craig say they've been playing together since they were 15-- almost a decade ago-- and their songs are stacked with enough ideas to back that up. Andy, who lists the Durutti Column's impeccably fluid guitarist Vini Reilly as an inspiration, uses lots of delay, chorus, and echo effects on his springy guitar licks, giving them a refracted, percussive quality while also making them sound larger than life. When Craig drops those Timbaland-style beats next to his cymbal crashes, you almost wonder whether these guys pal around with Colorado's own, chart-topping OneRepublic.