Heather The Jerk is a project from Madison, WI musician Heather Sawyer -- a scrappy punk band with garage and pop influences running rampant through the peppy, raw sound. This 4-song EP is called Very Motorcycle, released about a year after the Not Very Motorcycle tape. I have no idea what the phrase means, yet it sets a distinct mood. Very Motorcycle EP is a little bit weird, but it still cuts through and delivers what you want. It's more quirky than weird -- using synth and toy piano sounds for layers that fit the lofi vibe: melody with a little bit of eccentricity. "No Animals" has a call-and-response "wah wah wah" moment that's hard to explain. It's really silly on paper, but it sounds just right.
On most 4-song EPs it's easy to pick a favorite: they're glorified singles. But Very Motorcycle is really consistent. The songs are singalong and feel honest. The recording sounds live, like being in your favorite dimly lit dive bar, and the beat is uplifting. Music doesn't have to be saccharine to be uplifting, Maybe that's what "very motorcycle" means?
