How can you pass on a band called Psychedelic Horseshit? These Columbus, Ohio psych-poppers are largely dismissive of the shitgaze scene that they are often lumped into, and talk their fair share of trash about its guilty participants. Core member Matt Whitehurst recently chatted with the Washington Post about the current state of lo-fi music noting, “I’m not Rick Rubin, but I wanna be,” and going on to accuse peers like Wavves of, “hiding behind static.” And while he’s probably right, all this “constructive criticism” is just gonna land these guys in the bitter has-bin with Lydia Lunch one day.
Of course, none of this gossip would matter if Psychedelic Horeshit didn’t have some killer bite to back up the nagging. Their most recent assault is the cheekily-titled Shitgaze Anthems, a self-desribed “b-sides EP from an album that hasn’t come out yet.” It’s loud, catchy, and filtered through the kind of fuzz that really sticks to the bottom your shoes. These six songs willfully interchange psych, punk, dub, folk, psychobilly, and garage rock for their unique sound that could sit comfortably within the Black Lips early catalog. Opener “We’re Pink Floyd, Bitch” juxtaposes snot-nosed vocals and insane choral explosions of grinding stone melodies and chirping synths into some seriously thick-skinned pop. There are many surprises on this EP, from amphetamine C86-style punk of “Dreadlock Paranoia,” that abruptly dissolves into a clunky reggae bridge, to the coarse acoustic strumming of “As in Dreams Pt. 2″. With the adventurous song-structures, the vocals are the most lack luster component of this outspoken group, but if he ever takes the clothes pin off his nose, these guys may someday replace their umbrella-peers like Vivian Girls as no-fi royalty.
Shitgaze Anthems is available now on Woodsist, and no one blames you if you can’t get into it.
For fans of: Sic Alps, Eat Skulls, early Black Lips
MP3 :::
Psychedelic Horseshit – Dreadlock Paranoia
Psychedelic Horseshit – We’re Pink Floyd, Bitch
