Criminal Code – s/t 7” EP (self-released)
RECOMMENDED
The better-bet when it comes to the two types of bands left in Jay Reatard’s wake. No synth listed next to any of the first names on the back cover, but there’s a happy dark-wave, synth-friendly bleed-through on these three tracks and you know exactly what I’m trying to articulate here: phaser is the new reverb. Want me to use more hyphens? Enjoy complaining about my over-usage of them (there goes one now!!)? Well, check this shit out: My copious use of them is usually an indicator that a record is digging deeper that already bottomless trench down the middle of the road, but that’s not the story with this EP, dears. For the Screamers-plus-the-‘00s angle studied on this record, this is about as good as it gets. Very catchy guitar action and serviceably-catchy tunes overall. The full-length will be reviewed by this household sooner than later, and I’m putting some faith in the bitch being partways to burner status (that’s good), but we’ll see. (http://criminal-code.blogspot.com)
(Andrew Earles)
