By Dakota Jones
The process of recording an album is not easy. As a music producer and audio engineer, my mind can’t help but pick up on the nuances in production that often go unnoticed by bands rushing to produce their music. The Groanies’ new self-titled EP is less than 15 minutes long and after several listens, I’m glad to announce that this band made every minute count. From start to finish it’s razor sharp–no corners cut.
The one word I would keenly keep in mind when you listen to The Groanies is “thoughtful.” I know that might not seem like a really great adjective for a garage-y bunch of psych-rock pedal-peakers…but what if it were? Whether it’s the bass line adding a spark of interest in just the right place, or a tight tom fill (I’m a sucker for a good drummer’s perspective), or the most glaring of masterpieces in this album: the guitar tones — I can’t imagine a single thing on this album that wasn’t heavily scrutinized into perfection. One has only to listen twice to see behind the wailing b-bends and thoroughly thrashed vocals to truly behold that this was a love-child. This album glues you to your stereo on first listen, but what keeps me coming back to this album is that the energy in every opening riff makes me want to see this band live.
My favorite song of this album has to be “In Black.” I mostly lean towards the atmospheric when it comes to rock music and this song scratches that itch. The sludgy guitar coming from one side and the wailing guitar on the other make a sound similar to a train rolling down a track. Drums and bass provide a waterbed that everything sits on top of. The chorus has me singing along even though I can’t understand the words. This song, like every song on the album, does a great job of putting you somewhere between a dream version of the song and stage-side at a concert.
An album should have “variety and unity” — repetition and novelty. This EP does that. Every song helps you explore the rocky plastic island that is this album without having to travel on the water. It feels cohesive. My only regret is that the lyrics aren’t readily available to listeners on Apple Music/Spotify, as the singing (as is typical in a lot of punk/garage music) is almost unintelligible on purpose. And yet, if I were a hedge fund manager, I would buy stock in this band. They fit a growing niche in the Utah scene that few before seemed inclined to explore. They will certainly have success in the future.
If you are in the market for an album that will take you on a short grungy adventure to a washed-out universe, this album is for you. If you enjoy The OC’s or King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, this album is definitely for you. If you want a thoughtful garage-rock album where you can tell that the people who wrote it actually gave a shiz, I can’t think of a better album for you.
Make sure to follow The Groanies on Instagram. You can listen to “In Black” below!