Record Label: Volcom Entertainment
Genre: Indie/Quirk Rock
Band Link: link
Buy on Amazon.com link

I love shit like this. Cartoony, pinball-ish 80s synths and modern quirky electronica and samples smooshed into catchy indie-pop and poppy art-punk. When it’s done right, which is rare, it can be so cool sounding. This Austin, TX band also mixes in everything from hip hop to acid rock to post-punk to 80s new wave, while retaining their own identifiable sound under all the kitchen sink influences and three different vocalists.

The press kit quotes the Austin Chronicle as saying they sound like Oingo Boingo getting thrashed by Fugazi. Include some Atom & His Package, Helen Love, TFUL 282, the Pixies, Modest Mouse, and even Kool Keith and it’s a more accurate description.

To give examples, “Comm. Jet” sounds like “Take a Walk on the Wild Side” done by They Might Be Giants or Atom in the year 2050. “Floral Design In A Straight Line” is Fugazi meets Rage Against the Machine in Frank Zappa’s basement. And the beginning of “$7 Haircut” sounds like Rush’s “Subdivisions” before it turns into a jangly, fun pop-punk song that’s equally creepy and cute.

Trying to explain this band is not only extremely difficult, but it also doesn’t give them justice. If you want something different, pick up this album. Granted, half the songs are throwaway filler, but the meat of the album is chateaubriand, baby.

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