Cornpone / Pocket Fishermen split EP
Call it serendipity, coincidence, or even something preordained, but here we are. Ya see, every so often, I like to have a few sips and be my own personal DJ for the evening, and just last night, I grabbed the “P” box of lil’ spinners. Here I was, playing both POCKET FISHERMEN 45s from the late ’80s, and now, fifteen hours later, this brand new record hits my inbox. Can I get a what-what? POCKET FISHERMEN’s “Smash the Fascist” somehow reminds me of DEAD KENNEDYS, the B-52’S, and NO SYMPATICO (Michigan band). While slightly different from the two records I listened to last night, these two tracks are on-point with twisty guitars, poignant lyrics, and Texas charm. Let’s switch gears to CORNPONE. With the heaviness of all the best AmRep bands and a distinctive Texas swagger, their first song on here, “Too,” has the pleading but not desperate (more, if you will, angry and jarring) vocal styles of Jennie Armour layered over a sludgy, pummeling, and powerful song that has me leaning forward out of my seat. “Mother’s Cough,” their second offering, has Anthony bearing the weight of the vocals with what starts off as a fast hardcore stomper and then, as is typical with Texas bands, they throw in some unexpected changes and make this a rollercoaster of a just over two-minute ditty. Both selections are perfect, and together, they cover a lot of ground in under five minutes.