Trash Sound Conglomerate Sophomore Slump LP
This is one of those records where each song has a different style that can range from ’80s thrash, ’90s SoCal skate punk, ’00s crusty basement stuff like their fellow Seattleites SUX, Salinas Records-sounding indie punk, DIY scruff like GOD EQUALS GENOCIDE. and electro deathwave. And this is one of those records where it works so well that the band isn’t “pulling it off,” because it’s obvious that that’s just how they do music. It all fits together and feels singular in its attitude and self-deprecating anti-swagger. Every one of the three members sings, and I’m assuming they all contribute to the writing process. The alternating vocals and shifting sounds make the record move and never feel rote. The album art, with its Franklin Gothic typeface, may be an homage to Roberta Bayley’s work from the RAMONES debut, or maybe not, but it’s cool.