These folks have been around for a couple years already and i’m kinda surprised to realize this is actually their first real full length release to date. The intro falsely hints at a somewhat progressive-ish direction, though subsequently they settle into a more familiar aesthetic, a sound that’s absolutely of their time yet kinda singular among their peers in its angular, elaborate elegance – a mixture of post- and garage punk hitting the perfect mixture of smart and fun, kinda relaxed yet incredible propulsive all the same, remarkable for its layered textures and effortless execution, also presenting them at their catchiest so far. At times you might compare them to artsy post punk groups á la more recent Institute, Exit Group and Mononegatives, the slightly psyched-up variant of this as played by, say, Marbled Eye, Waste Man, Bruised or Public Eye as well as playful, clever garage punk acts like Erik Nervous, Clarko, Tee Vee Repairman, Mononegatives, Pinch Points, Dumb, Uranium Club, Reality Group… and i could still come up with many more awesome reference points. This shit rules, plain and simple!
Another constant presence of the garage scene who’s been around pretty much since the beginning of this blog has a new LP out and it’s such a thing of beauty! As versatile and inventive as ever, these new songs more or less continue the dude’s very own quirky, slightly Devo-fied vision of garage punk that first fully took form on that Beta Blockers LP in 2019 – instantly recognizable yet always a couple steps ahead of the listener, always good for a surprise or two. Tracks like Hemgeeh und Projector come with kind of a spaced out, psychedelic Mononegatives energy. Also, we get a bunch of compact and catchy-as-fuck synth-driven smashers in the second half as well as a neat They Might Be Giants cover and Alligator Facing East is such an epic fucking hymn for the ages! Further plausible reference points for the overall sound of this record would be the likes of Andy Human and the Reptoids, Freak Genes, Isotope Soap and New Vogue.
Damn, it appears for some weird reason i’ve skipped posting about all previous releases of this Minneapolis group here, begging the question of what the fuck has been wrong with me all the time. While i’m consulting my therapist about that, lemme just say that this newest Citric Dummies LP is a perfect knockout punch of early ’80s-influenced-oldschool-energy-meets-contemporary-garage-punk goodness packing an extra punch due to the always excellent production duties of garage prodigy Erik Nervous, of whom we’re gonna hear again this week. While the Hüsker Dü-referencing title and artwork feel kinda goofy at first glance, they’re also not entirely out of place as these songs conjure up a fury not entirely dissimilar to the Dü in their prime but similar things could be said of early Naked Raygun, Adolescents, an occasional hint of Bad Brains or a touch of Dickies in their catchiest moments. Every fucking song on here is a simple and precise, premeditated hit in the guts, their incredible song wizardry never failing to land even once.
This Portland Group’s third full length further refines their explosive formula of seriously noise- and slightly garage-infused postcore into their most realized and elaborate effort do date, their hyperactive vision of structured chaos constantly shapeshifting and throwing curveballs all the way, leading into all kinds of interesting maneuvers. Although no two songs are too much alike on here, the most frequently applicable comparisons i can come up with are groups such as the various incarnations of New York’s Kaleodoscope, early Bad Breeeding, Acrylics and, in some parts, Crisis Man, early Video and Ascot Stabber.
R.M.F.C. Human State Alien Nosejob Split Personality Violent Change Fabio’s Playhaus Dadgad Hire Me Max Mucus Time is Scary White Knuckle Split Tongue Slip Nylon PC Violence Adhesive Hyperlink Plumbob Plumbing Song For Gel to Sing Pack Rat Parasite City Rifle Marked Man Lovebite Bumming Top Dollar No Exit Necron 9 8 Ball
Yobs Fortune Teller The Bad Plug I Know My Chickens The X’d Go Away Rudix Ni Pensar Waldo Faldo Año 2033 Combat Tribes Undertaker Ghost Beef Moleman Invasion Why Bother? What’s Wrong With Me? Les Aranyes Llefiscositat Power Pants New World The Wind Ups Nothing But Time Death Party Dead To Me Citric Dummies Drugs in the Snow Erik Nervous Alligator Facing East
Blues Lawyer Have Nots Glas Nost Narcissist Anytime Cowboy Counting Feathers Private Life Keep It Movin’ Genre Rewired Luggage Nowhere Arse Kaputt. Daydream Patron Saint
Pedigree Runaway Pyrex Struck Down TV Cult Empty Quarter Gyrate Collision Drunk Meat Pic à glace Home Front Nation The Serfs The Dice Man Will Become The Vacant Lots Scars
