Band: Fat History Month
Full Title: Fucking Despair
Year: 2011
Label: Sophomore Lounge

Allston duo Fat History Month have a knack for crafting minimal, yet catchy, lo-fi jams best enjoyed in a sweaty, crowded basement. The ten songs on their LP Fucking Despair, ranging in length from just over one minute to just under twelve, capture the same stripped down sound utilized in their live sets: sparse, mumbled vocals with loose drum grooves and busy clean guitar riffs filling the space. Singer/ Guitarist Seanhistorymonth perfectly channels the nonchalant attitude and nonsensical lyrics of Pavement vocalist Stephen Malkmus. In the album opener “Free as a Cat”, he softly contemplates the life of a roaming feline, and on “Things I Enjoy” he provides commentary on a carefree existence. While his lyrics and delivery are plenty playful, Sean’s intricate guitar work brings about a contemplative, slightly somber mood reminiscent of early Modest Mouse or sometimes even American Football.  Songs like  “You Can Pick Your Nose, You Can Pick Your Friend’s Nose, But You Can’t Escape Your Horrible Family” feature longer instrumental passages where  his occasionally melancholic melodies are supported by the noodling percussive sounds provided by Markhistorymonth on the drums. On this, their first full length offering, Fat History Month successfully mix moody down tempo basement rock with catchy, sometimes bizarre lyrics that beg for a crowd of broke college students to sing along.

http://fathistorymonth.bandcamp.com/album/fucking-despair