Pissed Jeans - Honeys (For The Record #1)

SubPop put out this little gem and its nice to see them putting out bands that acknowledge their rich history as opposed to the lighter fare of folk, indie rock bands. not that those bands are bad or nothing, i just prefer something a little more upright. so here it is, a stupid review of a great album: Pissed Jeans' "Honeys".

the opening track, "Bathroom Laughter", sounds like a schizophrenic junkie detoxing in a state facility. its like a kick to the face at a shitty basement show which is fitting since the second half of the album has the feel of waking up in a puddle of something that you only hope is vomit; i mean that in the best possible way. but yea, "Bathroom Laughter" has a cool Adolescents vocal rhythm with a heavy dose of "A Senile Animal"-era Melvins on the guitars and drums. with a little bit of fuzz on the vocals, its got a great sludgy mid 80s grunge feel (like before Nirvana commodified grunge). this is definitely the highlight of the album for me and definitely in keeping with my stupid ugly-pop sensibilities. this is blackened pop if ever i saw it, grungey and blacked out like a late 70s pedo-van.

but hold on to your dicks kids cause it gets better. more blackened pop for you sickos out there. "Romanticize Me" is like sludge pop for kids, heads hung and aggro. its poppy like a firecracker stuck in a goose's ass is poppy, so don't knock pop ya dicks.

"Vain In Costume" has a great grunge vibe as seen through a hardcore kids' eyes. its informed by a little bit of Ceremony in its aggression and Husker Du in its psychedelic-noise grooving. hits like a quaalude and the rest of the album falls into the territory of coming down from a headful of bad acid.

"You're Different (In Person)" has a cool art rock drum beat and is a bit more noise-pop than the rest of the album with dirgey moments that don't linger long enough to be doomy.

"Male Gaze" is another highlight, a slow motion lysergic mosh that's heavy into late years Black Flag b-sides. Stiv Bators comes to haunt the singer in the insistent beating of "Cathouse" and the record closes out with the sludgy groove of "Teenage Adult". this songs like the dull ache of slowly banging your head against the wall like a My War b-side that verges into the territory of Loose Nut's b-side. aching guitars and sludgy grooves all around.

Overall, great fuckin album that progresses from moments of blackened pop to full on sludge. if you dig late years Black Flag, noise, or psychedelia-inflected hardcore then get this album on fucking vinyl. well worth 14 bucks on vinyl.

get it from SubPop, here:http://www.subpop.com/releases/pissed_jeans/full_lengths/honeys

stay cool, ya fucks