King Flamingo / The Thingz split EP

The THINGZ from Long Beach take the A-side with “Heavy Metal Back Pocket,” a lo-fi stomp run almost entirely on organ and bass, and the lyrics really capture a moment in four lines: “AC/DC concert shirt / Sit cross-legged in the dirt / You are mine eternally / Outside of society.” That’s the sound of being a kid next to your crush, and I was really touched by it. “Gastropod of Doom” follows as the theme song to a slug invasion, with vocals that reminded me of the B-52’S. KING FLAMINGO, a California duo who describe their music as “astro surf” or “goo wop,” take a more laid-back approach on the flipide: “Astro-Blast-Off/Re-Entry” lays spoken vocals and organ over twangy reverb, and “Moonbeam Beach” drops the tension for something prettier, a half-sung memory of a night on the sand. They’re going for atmosphere, where the THINGZ are going for a house party. It’s a good pairing, though I kept flipping back to the THINGZ side.

• Reviewer Jeff Cost
• Label Outro
• Issue MRR #519 • August 2026