Joe and Carina met in the desert of New Mexico in 2002, writing very small songs that they mostly kept to themselves. A couple of years later they regrouped in their native Massachusetts with Carina’s childhood friend Scott Hoffman, and formed Hands and Knees.

Nicholas Branigan, a veteran drummer of bands including Bane, Gary War, Bobb Trimble and the Flying Spiders, and The Tony the Bookie Orchestra, joined the group in 2009.

Wholesome is the third full-length by Boston’s Hands and Knees, available on vinyl and digitally January 18th, 2011.

Like their 2007 self-titled debut and 2009’s Et Tu, Fluffy?, the quartet recorded songs at their guitarist Scott Hoffman’s studio in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. The result is by no means a departure from the jangly turbo pop they’ve perfected on those albums. Rather, Hands and Knees have successfully brought more influences into the party without it feeling overcrowded.

Guitarist Joe O’Brien and bassist Carina Kelly share vocal duties, melodies ripe for singalong like the buoyant “The Moonlight is Wicked”. “Sitting at the Piano Disappearing” and ”Dancing On Your Tears” are arguably the band’s most infectious to date, reminiscent of Hunky Dory-era Bowie or The Modern Lovers. Nick Branigan’s drumming is on display throughout, nearly taking lead on the galloping opener “Throw Me From The Bridge of Flowers” and the Pixies stomp of “The Ballad of Cottonball Johnny”.

bandcamp.com/handsandknees
facebook.com/handsandknees