Classic rock is the music your dad listens to on that awful local radio station that plays Steve Miller’s “The Joker” every single day of the week.  Classical rock, on the other hand, is the term Sit Kitty Sit coined to describe their own unique sound, one that defies even that limiting title.  The duo’s new record, Everlasting Fire, which just dropped last Friday, encompasses genres ranging from Danny Elfman-like freakout rock (“life #6”) to tearful ballads (“Bleeds September”) to straight up heavy metal (“Ditch”).  Though it can possibly come across as a touch of hubris, the album is based on Dante’s Inferno and features 15 guest artists to help them achieve an orchestral sonic atmosphere.  Somehow, the band pulls this lofty goal off, probably because they approach it so fearlessly, so confident in their ability and originality.

The music can be at turns gorgeous, terrifying, melancholy and furious, each song propelled by the thunderous drumming of Mike Thompson (and, as a drummer myself, I don’t give out drummer compliments lightly; check out that great groove on “When I Get to Heaven”!) and balanced out by Kat Downs’ pop sensibility on the piano and vocals.

Digging for comparisons, you can find a little bit of everyone from Nick Cave to Randy Newman, Amanda Palmer to Metallica in their work.  Just simply comparing this band, however, does Sit Kitty Sit a disservice.  I’ve been an obsessive music consumer since the age of 15 and, at this point in my life, I rarely get surprised by sound.  Well, Sit Kitty Sit certainly surprised me, and I’m grateful they did.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=7w6dyDsQZPE