Photo Courtesy of | Laurie Scavo
Ed note: I am extremely aware that I say nothing of value in this other than that you NEED to listen to the Growlers, and most of it is assumed that you’ve listened to all these songs already, so my apologies in advance.
All hail the Growlers, y’all! Okay, well, that was probably the most unprofessional start to a serious review ever (bar the time I referenced 00s legends, Smashmouth) but that’s the frame of mind you need to be in before listening to the Growlers Hot Topics EP. This is their first release since the December 09 release of ‘Are You In Or Out?’ which pretty much was the best tracks off of all 8 volumes of the Couples EP. I’ll get the bone I have to pick with Hot Tropics out now, so I can let the fawning begin, but this, like ‘AYIOO’, is comprised of mostly familiar songs – songs that are so fucking good, but old songs nonetheless. I have been joking for a while that it’s one thing to rely on your old songs and just tour them to death (not the case with the Gs, though) but when you have like 70 amazing songs to go off of, I’m not exactly complaining.
More to the point, Hot Tropics’ October release date couldn’t be more perfect because the new recordings of old favorites have a really kind of sinister vibe to them – I’m not going to go as far to say Halloweenie, but it has a very Ghost Edit ethos to them. Opener ‘Graveyard’s Full’ was new to my ears (it’s on one of the 2 EPs of Couples I don’t have) is sort of a gypsy punk, rhythmic jig in classic Growler fashion with deeply dark lyrics. ‘Nosebleed Sun’ is something of an anomaly for a G’s song, but it’s got a really strong deserted-town-in-the-Wild-West vibe to it and it’s new treatment makes it more exciting then it ever has been.
The big 3 songs on this album that I couldn’t, literally, couldn’t wait to hear were: ‘Sea Lion Goth Blues’, ‘Camino Muerto’ and ‘Underneath Our Palms’ which in this head, are some of the three powerhouses they have. ‘Sea Lion Goth Blues’ is one of my favorite songs of all time probably, and this treatment (similar to the one they gave it for their Daytrotter Session) is so much better indicative of how incredible it is live. It’s as fun, floaty and fresh (Assonance, for the win!) as it is deeply a dark song, and lyrically, I think it’s among the G’s best. ‘Underneath Our Palms’ is probably one of my favorite (gag me) love songs of all time. It’s probably the one song that (live) builds up the cult of personality that I regularly contribute to. But this version is a lot clearer and twangier. It’s such a beautiful song. ‘Camino Muerto’ gets the most exaggerated improvement, the keyboard is much more exaggerated and the inclusion of the ‘ooooooo’ in the beginning amp up the sinisterocity (yeah, I did that) as much as you can, for a song that’s already about death. The re-recording does it a lot more justice than the original, which probably says a lot as the original is fucking awesome.
I think what most needs to be said about ‘Hot Tropics’ is that The Growlers managed to re-record songs that have been circulating for a while and have had the living shit toured out of them recently and managed to make them all sound amazing. It’s a mark of excellency that they can subtly re-do songs that keep the interested of even a seasoned veteran such as myself. I am continually impressed by everything that this band does in any way shape or form, and frankly, if you even read this blog and haven’t given them a try live or on record – just give up on life.
10/10
They are touring the fuck out of the rest of this year (as ever) so go see them. Do yourself the favor.
5 Oct 2010 20:00 Empty Bottle Chicago, Illinois
6 Oct 2010 20:00 Bakery Loft Detroit, MI
7 Oct 2010 20:00 Sneaky Dee’s Toronto, ON, CANADA
8 Oct 2010 20:00 Bug Jar Rochester, New York
10 Oct 2010 20:30 Beachland Ballroom Cleveland, Ohio
11 Oct 2010 20:00 Garfield Artworks pittsburgh, PA
12 Oct 2010 20:00 North Star Bar Philadelphia, PA
13 Oct 2010 20:00 Knitting Factory Brooklyn, NY
14 Oct 2010 20:00 Ashbury Lanes Ashbury Park, NJ
15 Oct 2010 19:00 The Surf Lodge w/ Tomorrow’s Tulips Montauk, NY
16 Oct 2010 20:00 Plaza Bowl Richmond, VA
17 Oct 2010 20:00 Snug Harbor Charlotte, NC
19 Oct 2010 20:00 CALEDONIA LOUNGE athens, ga
20 Oct 2010 20:00 Engine Room Tallahassee, FL
21 Oct 2010 20:00 Back Booth Orlando, FL
22 Oct 2010 20:00 Crowbar Tampa/Ybor City, Florida
23 Oct 2010 20:00 Jack Rabbits Jacksonville, FL
26 Oct 2010 20:00 THE EARL ATLANTA, GA
27 Oct 2010 20:00 CIRCLE BAR NEW ORLEANS, LA
28 Oct 2010 20:00 CONTINENTAL HOUSTON, TX
29 Oct 2010 20:00 DOUBLE WIDE DALLAS, TX
30 Oct 2010 20:00 Mohawk Place Austin, TX
mp3 | The Growlers - Badlands (Daytrotter Session)
