Category Archives: EP Review

EP Review, Music

EP Review: Hot Tropics [2010]

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Band: The Growlers
Release: 10/2010
Label: Everloving

1. “Graveyard’s Full” – A-
2. “Nosebleed Sun” – B
3. “What It Is” – A-
4. “The Moaning Man From Shanty Town” – B
5. “Sea Lions Goth Blues” – A+
6. “Badlands” – B
7. “Let It Be Known” – B
8. “Camino Muerto” – B+
9. “Underneath Our Palms” – A
10. “Hula Hula Hideout” – B

Comments: The Growlers are pretty distinctly So. Cal, which is a pretty daunting statement to make in an age where there is striking diversity among bands from that area. What I meant to say is they aren’t too far away from Mexico and listening to their music confirms this. Opener “Graveyard’s Full” features lead and bass guitar riffs that border on traditional Mexican/Caribbean. Singer Brook Nielson’s vocal style — part raspy/part laid-back eerie — fits genuinely on tunes like this. Short ditties like “Nosebleed Sun” add to the mystique of the band. What the hell are they singing about, anyway? I haven’t been able to discern such, but such does not matter much. Rhyming, for the win. Anyway, “Sea Lion Goth Blues” is this release’s best song and it’s not like its new or anything. Far from it. Other versions of “Sea Lion” have featured a more prominent lead guitar — one of the best of its kind that I’ve heard in the last year or so. The surf notes are compelling. Still, the added echo and reverb on Brooks’ vocals and the respective instruments are refreshing. My second favorite song on here is probably the second-to-last ditty entitled “Underneath Our Palms.” It’s plainly neat.

Grade: B+ (88)

EP Review, Girls, Music

EP Review: Broken Dreams Club [2010]

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Band: Girls
Release: 11/10
Label: True Panther Sounds

1. “Thee Oh So Protective One” – A
2. “Heartbreaker” – A
3. “Broken Dreams Club” – A+
4. “Alright” – A-
5. “Substance” – A
6. “Carolina” – B

Comments: “Thee Oh So Protective One” is Girls first major composition. There are an array of horns, shakers, and other instrumentation that Girls have not historically taken a crack at. Another thing is the outwardly Latin American feel. “Heartbreaker” continues in the same spirit, though with far less instrumental explosiveness. I must say the lead and rhythm guitars on “Heartbreaker” are up there with the best of what we heard on Album. Typical Owens lyricism from the get-go, but most especially apparent on the slower “Broken Dreams Club.” It’s not just that Owens is lonely. It’s more macrocosmic than that. The world “keeps going nowhere” with wars, poverty, and broken dreams abound. “Substance” reminds me of the scene in Nice Dreams where the dude asks the other dude for the “key” to get him out of the nut house. Timothy Leary puts the “key to the universe” — LSD — in the dudes’ mouths and they go for a “simple ride.” “Carolina” doesn’t really pick up until the song is six minutes deep. Even then, it hardly picks up. Don’t worry though — the first four tracks are pretty spectacular. This is a really good record.

Grade: A- (92)

Entertainment, EP Review, Music

EP Review: Out of Nowhere [2010]

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Band: Prismo Perfect
Release: 2010

1. “TV Dream” – A+
2. “Summer In The Kitchen” – A+
3. “Dead Shadow” – A-
4. “Enable Stop” – A-
5. “Wired Feelings” – A

Comments: Prismo Perfect is a band from France. They’re really good. Like they say, they play fast, but poppy rock music. They seem to be influenced by noise, punk, and garage and no track wears such influences on its sleeve greater than “TV Dream.” I only had to listen to it a couple of times before deciding that it’s amongst the best tracks I’ve heard in this young decade. That’s pretty remarkable for an obscure band from France! Combine one part No Age, three parts Ponys, and two parts Deerhunter (like on “Dead Shadow” really really) and the result might just be Prismo Perfect. I highly recommend people check out this band. They could easily become the next breakthrough Goner act or something.

Grade: A (94)

Entertainment, EP Review, Music

EP Review: Everything Must Go [2010]

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Band: Top Surprise
Release: 5/2010
Label: Pug Records

1. “Samsara” – (A-)
2. “Saturn (The Season)” – (B+)
3. “More Than Cool” – (A-)
4. “Home” – (A-)
5. “Lagarto Drugs” – (C-)
6. “I Shoot the Devil” – (B+)
7. “80 Comes” – (B-)

Comments: The rock and roll aspect of this album (minus the bullshit) is very pleasing and competes with the likes of honorary KLYAMers like No Age and maybe even Thee Oh Sees. The bullshit is bullshit and brings the album down; I’m looking at you tracks number 5 and 7! There’s some excitement to be enjoyed here. So enjoy it.

Grade: B (85)

Entertainment, EP Review, Music

EP Review: Square Shells [2010]

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Artist: Kurt Vile
Release: 5/2010
Label: Matador Records

1. “Ocean City” – A-
2. “Invisibility: Non-Existent” – B
3. “Losing Momentum” – C+
4. “I Wanted Everything” – B+
5. “I Know I Got Religion” – B+
6. “The Finder” – C+
7. “Hey, Now I’m Movin” – B+

Comments: Back when I first heard of Kurt Vile in March 2009, he was a relative nobody. He had released a solo record entitled Constant Hitmaker in 2008, but that hardly got any attention until its year later reissue. Vile and his group The War on Drugs had also just put a record called Wagonwheel Blues on Secretly Canadian. Some songs on that record like “Arms Like Boulders,” “A Needle in the Eye…,” and “Taking The Farm,” really won me over and convinced me to go see the band perform at TT The Bears. They played a short, but enjoyable set featuring those songs. All ten of us in the venue (that actually paid attention) seemed to have had a decent enough time. Fast forward to…right now. Vile is signed to Matador Records, is still touring a shitload both solo (with his back-up band The Violators) and as the lead guitarist of The War on Drugs, and put out a fairly well received Matador LP Childish Prodigy later in 2009. Well, Vile is not slowing down. There’s this seven song EP that has just been released for free digitally. And, if Matador isn’t lying, another LP is due out soon enough. You, at this point, may be asking yourself if it is worth downloading the 50.5 MB MP3 folder. It’s only 50.5 MB so you might as well just give it a try anyway. The simple acoustic “Ocean City” ain’t nothing spectacular, but captivates the spirit for a little while. The dude strums heavy, by the way. Instrumental from Vile on “Losing Momentum”??? He’s too young for that. Even though it is a chill tune. Haunting vocals and an excellent rhythm section make up “I Wanted Everything.” If you are a sucker for acoustic rock that is filled with heartfelt emotion and passion then you will enjoy this. If you are someone like me that finds value in this kind of music, but isn’t easily convinced of its beauty, this may only come across as a decent/good record. There’s a slew of similar artists that excel at this craft, perhaps leaps and bounds better than Vile (perhaps not) so it really is a matter of opinion. I guess it is more apropos to mention that for this record than others — minus the instrumentals.

Grade: B (84)

Entertainment, EP Review, Music

EP Review: ZOL! [2010]

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Band: BLK JKS
Release: 6/2010
Label: Secretly Canadian

1. “Iietys” – C
2. “Bogobe” – C+
3. “Zol!” – A-
4. “Paradise” – B–
5. “Mzabalazo” –  B+

Comments: Direction. It’s something BLK JKS had in their excellent debut track “Lakeside,” but is something that this release is lacking. I liked how “Lakeside” was short and immediately catchy. Going the route of six minute aimless tracks isn’t a viable route for most bands. “Iietys” is a tough listening journey with spurts of neatness, thanks in large part to a solid beat. Besides that, though? Too long. Even the experimentally inclined “Bogobe” is backed by a bare-bones bass-line that makes it borderline enjoyable. The Carribean flavored title track is absolutely outstanding in comparison to the first two. Think early 2000s Animal Collective intertwined with African tribal shouts. “Paradise” is a bit too maniacal for my tastes and wears its harder rock influences on its sleeves. Comparatively, though, it’s got a fine flow…something much needed when length is taking into account. Despite the craziness of the final tune, I find it pretty good. There’s a lot of layers in it, but like its two predecessors is relatively easy on critical ears.

Grade: B- (82)

Entertainment, EP Review, Music

EP Review: Night Deacon

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Band: The Homostupids
Release: 3/2010
Label: Fashionable Idiots

1. “R Companion” – C
2. “The Donovan (chop chop chop)” – C+
3. “Wearing Sammy” – D+
4. “Our Week Is Ending” – D
5. “Swearing Sammy” – C-
6. “Sea Wolf” – C+

Comments: If this is the group’s self-proclaimed best release, then may I ask what kind of shit came before it? Instrumental sounds of shattered glass and farts? Stick to making hardcore funk and cut the so-easy-even-I-could-fucking-do-it shit on “Wearing Sammy” and “Our Week Is Ending.” Great Lightning Bolt impression on “Swearing Sammy.” Nawt. This isn’t even punx.

Grade: C- (72)

EP Review, Music

EP Review: August in My Mind [2010]

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Band: The Fresh & Onlys
Label: Captured Tracks
Release: 3/2010

1. “Diamond in the Dark” – B
2. “Dreaming is Easy” – B+
3. “You’re Known To Wander” – A-
4. “August in My Mind” – A
5. “Garbage Collector” – B+
6. “Save Your Soul” – B+

Comments: Girls. Girls. A little Vivian, a little Dum, and a little plain old Girls. I like the psychedelic/surf sound of The Fresh & Onlys. Credit to them for staying fresh in a climate where music just ain’t as fresh as it used to be. They are too chill to be considered straight up garage or punk or what have you, but they draw from the lighter aspects of those genres. It’s cool.

Grade: B+ (88)

Entertainment, EP Review, Music

EP Review: You’re Welcome [2010]

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Band: Rot Shit
Release: 3/2010
Label: Columbus Discount

1. “Dead I” – A-
2. “Hipster Grandma” – B
3. “Local Band” – B

Comments: “Hardcore punk” that your average non-hardcore punk might like. Prerequisites: an admiration for punk, garage, noise, and lo-fi. I find the three chord verse in “Dead I” to be engaging and jamming. Good tune.  “Hipster Grandma” is sped up and pretty decent. What else is expected in 1 minute and 22 seconds? All of this shit has been done before by better bands, but it’s nice for a little flashback.

Grade: B (86)