Sharp Pins is the lo-fi noise pop project of Chicago musician Kai Slater, also of post-punk band Lifeguard. Drawing on touchstones from the Beatles to Guided by Voices, Slater’s songwriting most recently took shape on 2025 album Balloon Balloon Balloon.
“The soundtrack to my 18th summer riding a Chinese Taotao 50cc scooter around Taqueria Moran and four tracking my Sta-Prest-Dreams. I thought it would be cool to record a bunch of songs that never really got recorded in a semi-more-thought-out-way. Recorded on a Tascam Porta One in the old concrete Stulogulo with an imaginary band of Men in Green Striped Trousers. The original Sharp Pins garagepopspew sound in all of its crustiness and yelping…I think I dubbed like 50 of these. Now my teenage dream is yours.”..
Sharp Pins is the super solid lo-fi pop project of talented
Chicago musician Kai Slater of Lifeguard and Dwaal Troupe. This was a covers album, but man this is still great. The original Mod Mayday ’79 is great, and I’m so glad I found out about it through this, and Kai’s renditions complete the Mod revival aesthetic by making them sound like they actually came straight out of the 60s.
This album is amazing from beginning to end. RIYL: Kinks, early Who, The Wave Pictures, Guided by Voices
releases September 4, 2026
The Fat Angel Sings 