Run River North

Originally working as Monsters Calling Home, this six-member indie folk-pop group initially attracted attention with their unique video for “Fight to Keep,” taken in the backseats of their small Honda cars. This led to an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, fortifying their fan base to standing room only at local gigs. A recording contract and name change led to this debut album, produced by Phil Ek, known for his work with The Shins and Fleet Foxes. The song “Monsters Calling Home” clings toward modern pop while retaining the group's acoustic roots, which are far more present on the existential “Beetle.” The sextet leave room for adventurous arrangements, and by the album’s end, it’s apparent that singers Alex Hwang and Sally Kang could have been singer/songwriters on their own had fate not made their group an immediate hit. The unison-harmony vocals of “Lying Beast” have a pop-like sense of fun, whereas “Run River North” comes closest to a straight mainstream folk-rock tune. Violinists Jennifer Rim and Daniel Chae add an exotic counterpoint to the band’s standard guitar-keys sound.