“The rawness of Pinkerton, mixed with the polished pop of Deja Entendu”
– Someone Probably, 2020
Crafting Lies is a punk rock band that was founded in 2018 and that actively explores mental health. Songs address issues like memory loss, overcoming depression, fleeting aspirations, and odes to long-gone memories. Ken Taylor, the band’s frontman, is responsible for the lyrics. He gives each subject a unique, personally relevant spin. As dark as the topics may be, there always seems to be a glimmer of hope, which is what I love about this project, says Ken. “The process is cathartic,” he adds. I found optimism in the deepest recesses of my mind. It’s crucial when examining personal development and self-love.
Crafting Lies released their debut 6-song EP, “Stork Bite,” in April 2020, at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, indicating that taking that approach appears to have paid off. Carbon Monoxide Dreams, one of the songs on the EP, is high-octane, pedal-to-the-metal punk, while “Hang It Up” is an ever-expanding acoustic drawl. The idea that no two songs are alike is what Crafting Lies wants you to take away from the album.
Crafting Lies have a distinctive sound that combines elements of modern singer/songwriter music with vintage punk rock sounds that belong on a Tony Hawk Pro Skater soundtrack. The end result is something that comes across as wholesome and relatable—a band that is aware of how challenging life can be while also knowing that there are ways to emerge from it.
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