Cereal Milk by Cereal Milk

Flagstaff songwriter Kris Kohl led the band Cereal Milk in the mid-late 2010's, a highlight among the many greats in Arizona's perennially bullshit-free rock community. Self-described as "alt-emo", Kohl's diaristic and intimate lyrics recall those of Bay Area greats such as Blake Schwarzenbach or Aaron Cometbus, with expansive riffs that could probably trace their roots back to 1980's Minneapolis. A big-hearted record for all you sentimental rockers out there.

Liner notes by Cesar Ruiz:

"None of our friends locked their doors, the houses had open arms. I recall afternoons walking with a guitar case and slipping into the cozy kitchen. Muffled music would reverberate throughout the tiny wood frames, as if a ghost was still living in cramped spaces. There I would find Kris working out the bass parts for "Coach Class Anecdote" or "Heaven's Gate Initiation Video". We'd share some snacks and talk about hypothetical comedic situations or our thoughts on a friend's new album. Those days could also be draining and lethargic, informed by caffeine deficiencies, gray skies, strained working environments. For the people circulating in the Cereal Milk galaxy (The Milky Way), stories of our time in Arizona and our constant touring (in and out of Cereal Milk) pervaded every corner. Often, we would strive for nothing more than the opportunity to share moments with each other. People who have involved themselves in this itinerant world of DIY music understand this impulse.

Memories (from both Kris and others) are pinned as reference points for specific feelings. Tales of spontaneous crushes appearing and closing. Conversations via a phone chat or talking about war on a train. Allusions to mystical Christian themes; once participation, now retrospection.

There is mention of locations such as Seattle, Los Angeles, Arizona, La Conchita. America is a large landscape and we have a musical tradition where cities and states are named and given life through a storyteller. The life of a traveling musician is filled with souvenirs that link an experience to place.

Other music is present: Phil Lynott, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Watercolor Paintings, Jason Anderson, Dogbreth. Kris would be trying out different versions of lyrics at live shows; in "Band Patches", JAMC used to be Sevendust and in "Molasses", Watercolor used to be Weezer. In Music World, we wear our influences across our backs and it can be embarrassing to remember how serious we used to be. But despite all character faults, there are pivotal records and live shows that will always remain religious.

We live in different cities now. I would say Cereal Milk has reached a completion as a project. These songs had been jumping inside Jack's hard drive for a year, waiting for a phone call to set them loose into the world. I'm grateful for the moments we got to share in the CM trail, the beautiful and the insidious. I hope you get revved up by these rockers, the way I do."

phatnphunky.com