Staff Reviews

The Growlers - Not. Psych!

Review by Sammy Maine

Whilst 'Humdrum Blues' is a stand-out, pop fuelled track, the rest of the offerings on this EP are a little lacklustre.»

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Following hot on the heels of The Growlers' acclaimed 'Hung at Heart' LP, their first for FatCat, 'Not. Psych!' sees the famously prolific band deliver another set of their distinctive brand of warped, yet highly melodic, pop songs; zoning in on a vision and aesthetic that is truly unique. Opener 'Dogheart II' encapsulates The Growlers world perfectly, incorporating jangly surf guitars, a ramshackle skiffle shuffle, elements of psychedelia, and garage rock production, while featuring a typically captivating vocal performance from Brooks Nielsen extolling the virtues of younger women, signing off each chorus with trademark humour; "Take it from a dirty young man". Elsewhere, 'Humdrum Blues' is one of the boldest and most direct pop songs The Growlers have yet written, and also one of the most heartfelt. While the band fit comfortably on stages at festivals alongside contemporaries such as Black Lips, Ty Segall, Real Estate, and the Allah-La's, and recall the greats of the past such as The Seeds, The Chiffons, The Doors, and The Shirelles, The Growlers are gradually carving out their own place in rock'n roll history. As the title of the EP alludes to, The Growlers are a difficult band to pin down, but that's just what makes them so enchanting.
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