Sometimes I like to come into a record as a blank slate.
Amy Beth And Thee Creeps sent me a short email with their latest EP, Shitheel. It's a 4-song garage-punk ripper that's easily under 10 minutes. I just checked: it's five and a half minutes.
With no bio, the music speaks for itself and this is rhythmic, pulsing garage rock through a punk filter. It's fuzzy and full of reverb on the vocals, even a little on the cymbals, and it has a nice basement or bowling alley feel that bleeds authentic rock 'n' roll energy with a little swagger too.
The song titles are "Fucking With My World," "So Gone," "I'm A Bug," and "14 Months in Chino." Why do I highlight that? I think it gives a vibe of the band's gritty, everyperson approach. There are hints of despair if you look for a theme across all the titles (ahem, Shitheel), but with resilience and empowerment. "I'm A Bug" might be my least favorite here, due to the repetitive style, but I also think it highlights the tone and energy: like the Ramones riding a motorcycle down a dusty dirt road at full speed, literally picking the bugs out of their teeth. I should also mention that it’s a cover of The Urinals but, style-wise, it blends into the EP perfectly.
A lot of garage rock -- speaking back to the rockabilly old days -- was prevalent with real life creeps. Amy Beth And Thee Creeps seem more grounded and a little more approachable. Their garage-punk is high energy and rollicking. It's perfect for smashing stuff, but it's also self-aware and downright fun.
