Record Label: Great Society Recordings
Genre: Indie
Band Link: link
Buy on Amazon.com link

I know it’s a cop out to say, but Pela are good for what they are. What they are is yet another Brooklyn hipster band with an atmospheric-yet-driving sound in the Arcade Fire vein. You know, a fast-paced shuffle or hypnotically steady marching band bass drum holding up listless guitars and tortured vocals that climax in a big melodic payoff.

I can take it or leave it. They sound good, their music is good if not entirely memorable, but how many bands do we really need to do the exact same thing?

I don’t have much else to say so let me bash the press kit a bit. I try not to let idiotic press kits bias me (I would hate everything then), but this one was pretty lame. “Pela is an American rock & roll band” and it goes on to list the working class credentials of the band members. This is Williamsburg hipster music through and through. It’s about as heartland Americana as tight leather pants and fake Thai food.

Just had to get that in there. The band is otherwise ai-aight.

Bottom Line:
Notable Tracks: Waiting On The Stairs, Cavalry
Overall Rating: