Reviews

Prison

1-800-Mikey / Gee Tee split EP

Split release pairing Sydney’s 1-800 MIKEY and GEE TEE. 1-800 MIKEY is a project from Michael Barker, who also plays in GEE TEE. His tracks are lo-fi, innocent, and achingly whimsical, similar to fellow Sydneysiders TEE VEE REPAIRMANN and Portland’s CHEERY CHEEKS. GEE TEE has been referred to as the Australian SPITS, but on their track, they slow it down with a tune that sounds beautifully crafted like NOBUNNY covering DANIEL JOHNSTON in a bedroom on a four-track.

The Oidz Cryptid BF EP

Fresh slice of warbly garage punk from PRISON AFFAIR’s new label. The OIDZ, like PRISON AFFAIR, C.C.T.V., and BIG CLOWN, create catchy bozo punk that is as smart as it is dumb, chirpy as it is legitimately rocking. “Incel” is a satiric rant from a guy who has no friends and plays XBOX all day, but is confident enough to say, “I’m better than you / I’m better than you / I’m better than you!” Sounds like many a social media comment section. If you gather under the egg-punk umbrella, “Jackin Off in the UFO” is this season’s anthem. It’s almost like the song rips so hard to justify how stupid it is, and I love it. If I listen to it again, I know that it will take over all conscious thought for the next week. A crusty, B-movie, sci-fi rock’n’roll gem of a record from start to finish.