So, I checked out Trupa Trupa’s Facebook page for some info
on them and, scrolling down, realized I don’t speak Polish, though there was a
snapshot of a write-up in some printed periodical or other where their name was
at the top and the Engrish words “Grizzly Bear” stood out in the middle, clear
as day. I then said to myself, “These guys could do a lot worse than sound like
that.”
Trupa Trupa do not sound like that (like, like, at all),
though there are plenty of buried keyboards and reverb drenched guitars and
breathily cooed vocals to go around. There are a good many Beatle-esque themes
(you can’t avoid it if you’re any good at pop music, right?) as well as some
psychy Beach Bois harmonies, and, my favorite, moments including flirting with
Syd Barrett’s quirky ghost(s), which, really, is easily just as good as being a
li’l derivative of the GB. Honestly, most of these songs would do well on
American college radio, the few unfitting ones being too dissonant/chanty for
pop sensibilities, but still, pretty decent.
Both sentimental and heavy, somewhere betwixt the three
popular flavors of grunge, classic rock, and emo, I bet that if I heard these
guys in my teens, I’d have euphorically shat my pants. I hope you still shop at
thrift stores.
and/or
-
- Jacob An Kittenplan