Sharp Pins: Balloon Balloon Balloon [Album Review]

Sharp Pins
Balloon Balloon Balloon
K/Perennial Records [2025]

“A 21-track jangle-pop shimmer with the heart of Alien Lanes and the glow of a lost ’60s classic.”

Album Overview: Sharp Pins began as the solo outlet of Chicago multi-instrumentalist Kai Slater (who you may also know from Lifeguard) built around classic pop instincts and a love of homemade recordings. After the warm reception to last year’s Radio DDR (and its expanded reissue earlier this year), Slater kept pushing outward, sharpening the edges and opening the door to more collaborators. What started as one person tinkering with ideas became a small community of players, giving Sharp Pins a cleaner frame to work within while keeping the charm of its DIY roots.

With Balloon Balloon Balloon, Slater fires off a wide-open burst of ideas. The album leans hard into ’60s pop craft, jangly guitars, and late-night-after-a-great-show energy, but it’s grounded in the kind of scrappy fidelity that made early Guided By Voices records feel so alive. And at 44 minutes across 21 tracks, the record isn’t just a scatter of short bursts—it’s a thoughtful stack of earworms built for repeat listens. The vibe and mix has the excitement of a Alien Lanes with the bright Kinks-leaning melodies spinning quietly in the background.

Musical Style: Slater mixes chiming guitar pop, rough-edged lower-fi textures, and hook-heavy songcraft rooted in the earliest power-pop singles. Clean 12-string patterns, bouncing rhythms, and quick, punchy song structures define the record’s style. His vocals carry a youthful spark that keeps everything in motion. The influences run from sunshine pop to basement rock, but the execution feels entirely present and nostalgic without chasing nostalgia.

Evolution of Sound: Compared to Radio DDR, this album feels wider, braver, and more confident. The arrangements are richer, the transitions sharper, and the overall lift more immediate. But Slater doesn’t polish away the personality. Instead, he doubles down on what already worked: fast-moving songs that land instantly, stick around in your head, and reveal small details every time you come back.

Artists with Similar Fire: Fans of Guided By Voices’ compact blasts, Squire’s mod snap, The Move’s playful charm, The Kinks’ early bite, or Cleaners from Venus’ art-pop sparkle will feel right at home here. There are shades of The Jam’s wiry punch, The Wave Pictures’ conversational looseness, and The Mice’s instant tunefulness. Good Flying Birds also belong in this orbit, sharing Sharp Pins’ knack for crisp melodies and upbeat jangle. You can even hear glimmers of Marc Bolan’s melodic glow and Television Personalities’ off-kilter spirit drifting through the mix.

Pivotal Tracks: “Popafangout” kicks the album open with warm jangle and a jumpy, back-and-forth fidelity that captures everything great about Sharp Pins. “(I Wanna) Be Your Girl” pops with a GBV-style intro before settling into a melody that never gets old. “I Don’t Have the Heart” shows how Slater can stretch a tight ’60s pop frame into something emotionally weighty without slowing the pace. “Queen of Globes and Mirrors” brings a shimmering left-turn ballad moment, while “Stop to Say Hello” adds a late-album burst of momentum that keeps the back half racing. Together, these tracks showcase the album’s strengths: brevity, sparkle, momentum, and heart.

Lyrical Strength: Slater writes with a direct, openhearted voice that leans into longing, imagination, and that wide-open hope tied to early adulthood. His lyrics swing between humor and sincerity, giving the songs emotional grounding even when the melodies aim skyward. Instead of hiding behind abstraction, he commits to clear feelings and that honesty is part of what makes these songs connect so quickly.

Final Groove: Balloon Balloon Balloon is Sharp Pins at a new peak—bigger, brighter, and more intentional while still carrying the jittery excitement of a kid recording in their bedroom. It’s a 44-minute burst of joy built on hooks, heart, and a surprising amount of craft hiding beneath the low-fi charm. Slater sounds energized, the band sounds dialed-in, and the songs feel like they’re trying to outrun each other. If this is where Sharp Pins are landing now, whatever comes next is going to be even more exciting.

SHARP PINS REVIEW HISTORY
Radio DDR (2024)

SHARP PINS LINKS
Website | Instagram | Bandcamp | K Records