Poke A Brain’s creator calls his preferred combination of grunge and classic rock “Grunck,” then happily admits how much he loves ballads. His fondness for minor chords and sevenths belongs alongside the heavier influences, an appetite for both that helps introduce Refinement_2026. Across thirteen songs, the composer and multi-instrumentalist known as PAB brings his writing together with other musicians and singers. Rock remains the dominant language, though his description of the album also makes room for pop, funk, jazz and classical music.
That range has a history. PAB’s biography describes more than twenty-five years of composing and playing, with guitar, piano and bass as his main instruments. His influences extend from blues and soul to disco, metal and several decades of rock. Following Organic Rock and Love, Resentment & Mortality, this latest collection continues a project built around his compositions and the people who help perform them. The collaborative setup is particularly relevant here, given how much the singers contribute to the album’s character.
I really enjoyed most of these songs. There’s a good balance between the rock material, the more emotive moments and the different styles that enter the arrangements. Rock gives the collection a recognizable center, while the changes in approach provide variety across its thirteen tracks. PAB’s enthusiasm for ballads also gives some context to that balance: his stated interests already include both forceful music and more openly emotional songwriting.
The recordings lean toward lo-fi, with a rawness to the performances that I usually prefer for this kind of music. That sound suits my taste, and it forms an important part of how I responded to the album. The title might suggest polish, but the music’s rougher presentation belongs in any account of its appeal. Here, refinement still leaves room for raw performances and a range of voices.
The contrast between the male and female singers was what I enjoyed most. Their different energies were powerful, making the album more dynamic and the experience of moving through it more exciting. With one composer’s work providing the basis for the project, those changes of voice become especially significant. The variation extends beyond the styles of the songs to the people delivering them, giving the collaboration a clear presence throughout the record.
Refinement_2026 is a gem of an album that rewards listening from beginning to end. The balance of rock and emotion, the raw performances and especially the contrasting singers all contribute to that experience. I enjoyed most of what PAB and his collaborators put together here. Give the full album a listen.