BASKETBALL SHORTS "The Total BS EP"BIG BILL "A Hard Day's Bill EP"

 Here's two eps for the price of one that's something everyone can get behind for the upcoming Holiday season. These two bands exhibit a wide melodic and rhythmic range. Do you like Modest Mouse, Death, Grateful Dead jams, Mountain, Wavves, Blink 182, the Beach Boys or Buddy Holly? If you said yes to one or more of these contributors to the ROCK than this 2013 gem of a two band rock/roll album split can fulfill at least one of your sonic protopunk desires. This release is strictly for the KIDS who are still pumped on skateboarding, Alicia Silverstone and their newly acquired Fender Squire. It bursts with enthusiasm, energy and youth but also shows an impressive song education by referencing tones and rhythms from so many different eras. I get images of high school hallways and school cafeteria food fights. References to Bill Murray and some pretty clever lyrics are in these songs. Both singers of both bands have good voices that are well harmonized with other members.

A couple highlights:

BASKETBALL SHORTS:
* The angst lonely bedroom song Genevieve focuses on the passage of time and it's a Archie Comics pop romance of a good punk song. "We used to call you Jenny, ... but now you go by Genevieve" - HEART MELTING! It's like a younger and less soothing Roy Orbosne. I feel like I am listening to the fucking Beets on Nickelodeon's Doug, (Not the Brooklyn band ... although that band is the fucking best). There are some great major to minor chord transitions in the song as well.

* East Sides Lies is my favorite song because it sounds like early DEVO mixed with the cartoonish Angst of the RAMONES. But it also contains a solo that emulates and equals the greatest liberating riffs and hooks of DEATH.

BIG BILL:
Big Bill is a little more garage with some poppy bass lines and party rock beats. The vocalist even sounds a little like the CRAMPS or even, again, an early demo DEVO. Their fun party rock song Get with the Goblins is like if the lead singer is attempting to impersonate an alien from Mars with his domineering, staccato alto-tenor. They are surprisingly surfy, even hitting some Fred Schneider recorded by Steve Albini solo album territory (It's not as good as that album mind you, just reminiscent).

... This recording is distinctly inspired by the city is it recorded and mastered in, Austin Texas. It equally captures the energy of an Austin concert with that cities' strong commitment to home recording culture. GREAT guitar solos and psychedelic tones similar to the gnarl of MOUNTAIN.

BUY TAPE HERE: http://fleetingyouthrecords.bandcamp.com/album/big-bill-basketball-shorts-split-cs

Artwork by http://www.showdeer.com

-- Jack Turnbull
www.jackturnbull.com