After working with other people for the first time on
Peach Kelli Pop's third album
Peach Kelli Pop III, the band's leader
Allie Hanlon did the same thing on 2018's
Gentle Leader. With her live band and a few ringers on hand to contribute,
Hanlon delivers the best-sounding and most diverse entry in the
PKP catalog. With a mix of jumped-up punk pop gems, strummy midtempo tracks that dial down the noise, and even a couple of ballads, the album mixes the rough with the smooth in perfect fashion as both
Hanlon's songwriting and vocals have taken a measurable leap forward. After the first two songs, the romping "Hello Kitty Knife" and a lovely cover of the
Marine Girls' "Honey," it's clear right away that this is the best
PKP album yet.
Hanlon's vocals are assured and the harmonies are blindingly bright, the backing band brings the songs to sparkling life, and the production (by
Hanlon and
Roland Cosio) is simple and strong. The rest of the album reinforces this initial impression as one killer song after another flashes past. Buzzing, hooky rockers that spring out of the speakers like spooked cats ("Black Magic," "Black Cat 13"), restrained ballads with subtle synths ("Parasomnia," "Quiet"), jangling indie pop that would make
Cub proud to call them labelmates ("King Size"), and loads of peppy punk delights (especially the bittersweet "Cherry [That's Not Her Real Name]") that all come together to make this brief album a tiny treasure that makes good on all the promise past
Peach Kelli Pop albums have shown. With a little help from her friends, a little more polish on the sound, and some great songs,
Gentle Leader makes the case once and for all that
Peach Kelli Pop aren't a novelty band: They're worthy heirs to the
Shonen Knife and
Cub heritage
Hanlon is so clearly devoted to.