Shake Appeal is a column that highlights new garage and garage-adjacent releases. This time, Evan Minsker shares reissues from the Spits and Gluebag, a demos/rarities collection from Peach Kelli Pop, and new releases from Dinos Boys and Psychic Baos.
The Spits: Kill the Kool [In the Red]
"It is crazy to me that Pitchfork never wrote about the Spits." That's an email I received when I first started this column, and no shots intended toward my bosses/colleagues/predecessors, but yes, that is crazy. They've been going since 2000, and in terms of consistency, they're the dour, skate-punk Ramones that the 21st century deserves. They've built a lengthy discography, and if you like one of their songs, you should probably collect 'em all. (Even their songs on the NOFX split, which are both on this comp.) Kill the Kool is a reissue of their 2011 tour-only compilation featuring outtakes, demos, and singles. It's also one of their best long-players. It's seriously hard to peg highlights here, because, as usual, it's all solid. So there. Somebody wrote about the Spits on Pitchfork. Let's do it again sometime.
Gluebag: Confused [Framework]
Back in 2008, West Massachusetts band Gluebag recorded Confused, self-released 100 copies of it on cassette, then pretty much broke up when one of the members, Dylan, moved to California for school. Since then, the members of the band have been members of SQRM, World Domination, and Crystalline Roses. Funny story, though: Dylan's back in New England, Gluebag are finally back to playing shows, and they're giving Confused a wide release. It's a good thing, because the album completely rips. With howling, sometimes demonic vocals and huge guitar solos, it's a record that demands attention.
Peach Kelli Pop: Demos & Rarities [Lollipop]
All hail Peach Kells, the reigning queen of garage pop—she who romanticizes Joey Ramone and Debbie Harry on a song performed with just a ukulele and xylophone. Following her fuzzy, kinetic, sacharrine self-titled LPs, Lollipop has a new collection of songs from the bubblegum auteur. Several songs here are demos of tracks that later appeared on her albums, but there are some real gems in here, like the sunny, driving full-band tunes "Away" and "Mindreader". Then there's her stripped down, toy piano-featuring cover of Buddy Holly's "Maybe Baby". They're Peach Kelli Pop songs, and even the most barebones tracks of the bunch are beach-ready as usual.
Dinos Boys: Last Ones [Oops Baby/Die Slaughterhaus]
With albums from Black Lips and the Coathangers coming out, it's already a major week for Atlanta-based punk. Add Last Ones by Dinos Boys to the fray, an album of solid, sneering rock'n'roll that recalls bands like the Saints. In the grand tradition of bands that glorify huffing glue (and countless other forms of "delinquent behavior"), their lyrics definitely romanticize stuff that sounds badass: "You're hangin' in the schoolyard with the cigarette lit," they sing on "Bloody Carpet". The songs here are under two minutes, and each one offers an earworm. "She Cut Me", for example, begs for you to shout along with it, and it comes packed with a key change and a ripping solo.
Psychic Baos: Our Friends Call Us Horse [Magnetic South]
The opening moments of Our Friends Call Us Horse feature a vocalist sounding like Lemmy trying to shout through feedback. It's a stomper from the Knoxville, Tennessee outfit that demands attention out the gate. It's the second impressive tape from these guys following Nuh Uh: Death of Bob Plant, and like that one, their latest release isn't all reckless shredding. There are moments where they slow down and add some nuance to their sound. "Psychedelic" is a tempting descriptor, but "swampy" might be more accurate. "Easy", encourages the vocalist on "The Love of Legs / The Healer", a jam that stretches out for over seven minutes with long stretches of reversed tape effects and silence. An unpredictable record, for sure, and one that's definitely worth exploring.