Shake Appeal is a column that highlights new garage and garage-adjacent releases. This week, Evan Minsker discusses the latest releases from Dana Point's VAGUESS, Toronto's Ketamines, Michigan's Bad Indians, Providence's Atlantic Thrills, and Charlottesville's Big Air.
VAGUESS: Simpler Times [Refry]
Every now and then, a band will build a song around a two-word phrase and deliver it with satisfying fury. Last year, Protomartyr did it with "Free Supper". VAGUESS (pronounced "Vegas"), have "Sinkpisser" (which is technically one word, I guess). Most of their songs open with guitar lines that gather momentum but never obliterate everything else in the mix. They keep their vocals audible, which is good, because they're really good at writing entire songs, not just riffs. "Sinkpisser", for example, has vocal harmonies and keys that come in right at the chorus—a subtle build that hits at the very moment of the brief song's climax. Simpler Times 14 tracks of well-written rock'n'roll (available for free); sometimes it's delivered with Dictators dirtbaggery, sometimes the vocals are washed in that same sort of early Oh Sees echo. Regardless, everything here rules.
Ketamines: Eleven Eleven EP [Leaning Trees]
Toronto space cadets Ketamines have been on a tear lately, and this week, they've released two new singles: one on Mint and this one on Leaning Tree. Though it's only six tracks long and nothing lasts longer than two minutes, Eleven Eleven is a diverse record. There's propulsive power pop ("Take Me to Your Leader"), quiet acoustic numbers ("Right About Now"), and skillfully paced tunes that springboard into more accessibly catchy material. For a brief release, Eleven Eleven is well-sequenced and thoughtfully put together.
Bad Indians: "Annunaki" [self-released]
Michigan psych-rock lifers Bad Indians have seen several lineup shifts, and it's tempting to call the current roster their most powerful yet. With drummer Tim Thomas (of Secret Twins) providing a periodically intense backbone, Jules Nehring and co. have a new tape featuring a series of excellent songs. (You can pick it up at one of their shows.) "Annunaki" is the nine-minute track that kicks of the second side, and it rips. With tons of momentum, some blistering performances from the entire band, and just a hint of sci-fi sound effects, this one's an easy recommendation for fans of Human Eye and Charles Mootheart's rafter-reaching guitar work in Fuzz. Sure, it becomes slow and spacey in the middle, but see it through—the final stretch is well worth the patience.
Atlantic Thrills: Atlantic Thrills [Almost Ready]
Hailing from Providence, Rhode Island, Atlantic Thrills are helping to offset the recent North American arctic blasts with some jams ideal for barbecues and a "Day at the Beach". It's a fun record that's ready for the summer. They veer into bubblegum territory on "Boozin' All Night" and tap into "swooning rockabilly" mode with "Lie to Me". So much of what they do has familiar air to it, like the opening guitar roll of "Acid Rain", which recalls the Doors' "Roadhouse Blues" intro. They shriek during "Holy Mountain". This is a band poised to party, taking cues from the wild men of rock'n'roll's past. Play it loud; it's a fun listen.
Atlantic Thrills: "Day at the Beach" on SoundCloud.
Atlantic Thrills: "Acid Rain" on SoundCloud.
Big Air: Buds [self-released]
Their vocals smack of Mac McCaughan, their guitars recall J Mascis or Milk Music. They're called Big Air, they're from Charlottesville, Virginia, and their self-released tape Buds is an infectious pop punk record by a pair of dudes with some serious chops. This may be the first record to be featured on this column that falls under the banner of "pop punk", but don't let that deter you. Both Rob Dobson and Greg Sloan show off their chops throughout the record, whether it be in the power balladry of "Out of This World" or in their Dick Dale-ian drum opening of "Barking Dog".