“A singsongy thingy started by a bored guy in
Florida,” A. J. Herring’s Velma and the Happy Campers morphed into a lo-fi
indie-rock spectacular. Or maybe that’s what it always was, a project stuck in
a basement with a four-track, a bunch of GBV and early Built to Spill records,
and tongue jammed firmly in a cheek. Because, you know, “Permatemp” is an
oxymoron. Wasn’t sure if you noticed. You can’t get away with a thing like that
without a sense of humor.
If you’re in the market for some
throwback-to-the-1990s scene-and-zine heartfelt indie, then Herring’s your man,
and Velma and the Happy Campers is your tape. A generous thirteen tunes
covering everything from “Koala Sex” to “T-Rex Arms,” “Permatemp” will remind
you of the days in high school, laying on your bed and wondering what it was
really like out there, then grabbing whatever instruments were nearby and
writing songs about the things that popped into your head. That’s what I did
anyway. Maybe I’m a throwback? Maybe A. J. Herring is a throwback? Let’s hope
not – let’s hope that there are some earnest and eager kids out there ready to
do the same thing. No more of this metallic sheen over everything. Get twee!
--Ryan
Posts
