Pinback

Pinback is an American indie rock band formed in San Diego, California, in 1998. The group’s core members are Rob Crow (vocals, guitar, keyboards) and Armistead "Zach" Burwell Smith IV (bass, vocals), who developed a distinct collaborative approach based on interlocking melodic lines and layered arrangements. Over the following decades Pinback built a reputation for precise, textured songs that blend indie rock with elements of math rock, lo-fi and post-rock sensibilities.

Their recorded output includes a string of widely cited albums: a self-titled debut (1999), Blue Screen Life (2001), Summer in Abaddon (2004), Autumn of the Seraphs (2007), and Information Retrieved (2012). These releases showcased restrained dynamics, repeating motifs, and close vocal harmonies, earning the band a dedicated following and steady presence on independent touring circuits. Pinback’s music has been praised for its craftsmanship and emotional restraint rather than mainstream chart success.

Both Crow and Smith are active in other musical projects and have collaborated with numerous artists, reflecting the band’s roots in an interconnected San Diego scene. While their output has been intermittent, Pinback remains influential among indie and alternative musicians for its meticulous arrangements and enduring melodic focus.