I’m not one for much political discourse, but
when I read “Us Presidents” [sic] and “Worst World in the World,” I’m inclined to
agree, at least today. And yesterday, and the day before, and pretty much any
day between 2017 and 2020. There’s a reason for that, and it may be an obvious
one or it may not be, but I was prescribed cynicism supplements by my doctor
around that time, and I have about a year left before I’m to go off them.
Har har.
“Worst World in the World” rocks turkey socks, as the
kids say. (They say that, right?) It’s a sugary downbeat indie album, but with
enough sarcasm and snark to get you out of bed in the morning long enough to
scream at the bird outside your window to shut up before you hop back in bed
again. Antecedents: Death Cab, Sloan, … probably others. The lyrics are smart,
the recording sounds great, and Us Presidents clearly know what they’re doing.
They’re an outlet for Darren Frayne’s lyrical gymnastics, and the rest of the
players – Steven Fischer (Teal Moss), Brack Cantrell (Diva Cop), and Daniel
Hill (Emotional Indulgence) – are top notch. I guess if you’re going to call
yourselves “Us Presidents” in Denton, Texas, you probably need the chops to
back it up. Luckily, Us Presidents does – do? – indeed have those exact
necessary chops.
--Ryan
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