MONDAY MAY 09, 2016
Slothrust
Formed amidst the ashes of Leah Wellbaum's solo project, entitled Slothbox, Slothrust was forged with drummer Will Gorin and bassist Kyle Bann. Thanks to their adept jazz & blues backbone, Slothrust plays deceivingly clever rock with a relentless, punk-as-fuck aesthetic. Though commonly compared to Sonic Youth and Nirvana, Slothrust plays a trickier game than its grunge-revivalist peers. From tender to thrashing and from dark to dorky, Slothrust is a band at constant play with its sonic dynamics and emotional spectrum, yet still manages to weave in ear-worming, cathartic hooks. The band's second full-length release, 'Of Course You Do,' was released in February 2014 on Ba Da Bing as a follow-up to their 2012 self-released album, 'Feels Your Pain.'
With her deep, charismatic vocals, most reminiscent of Nico with the edge of Isaac Brock circa '97, Wellbaum sings about alienation, awkwardness and absurdity, and damn if she doesn't make it all sound kind of fun. "Crockpot" is a dark, yet funny and irreverent take on the struggle for human connection in a society built to make us feel isolated: "Some men purchase real dolls / to fill the void / But she don't finish dinner and her expression never changes / Don't shake hands with the lonely kids 'cause I hear that shit's contagious". "Juice" is a paean to realizing the limits of self-improvement: "My name is Leah and I drink juice every morning when I wake up but it's no use, I'm unwell". She evokes feeling while sounding despondent, all the while with catchy melodies -- pulling off Stephen Malkmus' Pavement-era feats of writing and delivery. On top of the solid writing and rhythm section, her playing style ranges from simple eloquence to hard-edged, aggressive guitar solos.
Formed amidst the ashes of Leah Wellbaum's solo project, entitled Slothbox, Slothrust was forged with drummer Will Gorin and bassist Kyle Bann. Thanks to their adept jazz & blues backbone, Slothrust plays deceivingly clever rock with a relentless, punk-as-fuck aesthetic. Though commonly compared to Sonic Youth and Nirvana, Slothrust plays a trickier game than its grunge-revivalist peers. From tender to thrashing and from dark to dorky, Slothrust is a band at constant play with its sonic dynamics and emotional spectrum, yet still manages to weave in ear-worming, cathartic hooks. The band's second full-length release, 'Of Course You Do,' was released in February 2014 on Ba Da Bing as a follow-up to their 2012 self-released album, 'Feels Your Pain.'
With her deep, charismatic vocals, most reminiscent of Nico with the edge of Isaac Brock circa '97, Wellbaum sings about alienation, awkwardness and absurdity, and damn if she doesn't make it all sound kind of fun. "Crockpot" is a dark, yet funny and irreverent take on the struggle for human connection in a society built to make us feel isolated: "Some men purchase real dolls / to fill the void / But she don't finish dinner and her expression never changes / Don't shake hands with the lonely kids 'cause I hear that shit's contagious". "Juice" is a paean to realizing the limits of self-improvement: "My name is Leah and I drink juice every morning when I wake up but it's no use, I'm unwell". She evokes feeling while sounding despondent, all the while with catchy melodies -- pulling off Stephen Malkmus' Pavement-era feats of writing and delivery. On top of the solid writing and rhythm section, her playing style ranges from simple eloquence to hard-edged, aggressive guitar solos.
Pretty Boy
"The brittle single “Stay Hydrated” mixes a general disregard for song structure with some critical health information, all wrapped up within a jangly, plodding ditty. Pretty Boy is made up of Blare LaBlonk on vocals and synths, Yancey Ballard (Man Up, Yancey) on vocals and guitar, and Kyle Swick (DiCaprio) on drums. Although the band has only existed a little over a year, they’ve kept up a rigorous show schedule despite the members’ other projects. It’s nice to hear a richer version of the track than the one the band delivers through their usually sparse, sometimes halting live performances. But even if “Stay Hydrated” isn’t lo-fi, it is assuredly minimalist, a necessary quality for a band which takes pleasure in the more grating qualities of pop. The track, along with the rest of Pretty Boy’s upcoming album, It Ain’t Easy Being Pretty, was tracked at Swick’s house, with help from Carter Sutherland (Sea Ghost), who also handled the mixing. Pretty Boy’s sound is miles apart from the lush pop-rock that Sutherland is known for, but he deftly captures the rough, detached vocal combination which makes the band so engaging. In a world where art rock is an aristocratic umbrella for music connoisseurs, the abstract swagger of “Stay Hydrated” and ridiculous lyrics prove that Pretty Boy isn’t an artsy side project to satisfy the more snobby side of Atlanta’s DIY scene. Rather, the band is a tongue-in-cheek experiment, a challenge to taste, and a reminder of the inherent limitations of genre." -Immersive Atlanta
"The brittle single “Stay Hydrated” mixes a general disregard for song structure with some critical health information, all wrapped up within a jangly, plodding ditty. Pretty Boy is made up of Blare LaBlonk on vocals and synths, Yancey Ballard (Man Up, Yancey) on vocals and guitar, and Kyle Swick (DiCaprio) on drums. Although the band has only existed a little over a year, they’ve kept up a rigorous show schedule despite the members’ other projects. It’s nice to hear a richer version of the track than the one the band delivers through their usually sparse, sometimes halting live performances. But even if “Stay Hydrated” isn’t lo-fi, it is assuredly minimalist, a necessary quality for a band which takes pleasure in the more grating qualities of pop. The track, along with the rest of Pretty Boy’s upcoming album, It Ain’t Easy Being Pretty, was tracked at Swick’s house, with help from Carter Sutherland (Sea Ghost), who also handled the mixing. Pretty Boy’s sound is miles apart from the lush pop-rock that Sutherland is known for, but he deftly captures the rough, detached vocal combination which makes the band so engaging. In a world where art rock is an aristocratic umbrella for music connoisseurs, the abstract swagger of “Stay Hydrated” and ridiculous lyrics prove that Pretty Boy isn’t an artsy side project to satisfy the more snobby side of Atlanta’s DIY scene. Rather, the band is a tongue-in-cheek experiment, a challenge to taste, and a reminder of the inherent limitations of genre." -Immersive Atlanta
My Son Gordeaux
My Son Gordeaux are a perfect band for the arts space basement. Camilia, Sophia, and Taylor (no last names on their page) blend lo-fi hooks and self described "ATL fem hap sap w/ a male drummer" on their EP "Peach Pit." Lots of oohs and aahs, verses that repeat for that quick to sing along vibe, drums locked in on the two and the four, and electric guitar lines that run up and down your spine.
My Son Gordeaux are a perfect band for the arts space basement. Camilia, Sophia, and Taylor (no last names on their page) blend lo-fi hooks and self described "ATL fem hap sap w/ a male drummer" on their EP "Peach Pit." Lots of oohs and aahs, verses that repeat for that quick to sing along vibe, drums locked in on the two and the four, and electric guitar lines that run up and down your spine.