Photo by Kai Slater

Radio DDR was self-released last year, but with its deluxe edition on the horizon through the K Records’ imprint Perrennial, tracks like “Storma Lee” necessitate the argument to make an exception for the body of the whole of the debut full-length from Sharp Pins to be considered as one of 2025’s best new listens just as well. Much like the impressive impressions Kai Slater and his main outlet as the guitarist and vocalist of the Chicago trio Lifeguard have had within DIY indie rock circles in sounding more well-learned than that of beyond their years, his grasp on a melodically perfect power-pop craft through his own lo-fi interiors is beyond those of twice his age. He seems to have studied from the greats that even they may not be hip to, as the listen imagines a strange way biopic storytelling in the manner of a “zombie beach boy daydream terror” of the mysterious life of the Nerves’ great leader, Jack Lee, who is arguably the best and an innovator of this sound. “Oh time, the only thing that I can use / And by then we won’t have much more time to choose / So tie my hands / to the ship that takes me all the way to you,” he sings. It’s as if his Radio transmissions can put you in touch with kindred spirits from the afterlife.

Directed by: Jolie M-A

Sharp Pins’ Radio DDR will be released March 21st on K Records / Perennial.