Best thing about writing reviews is finding out about new stuff that I otherwise might not have heard. Also writing reviews for bands that aren’t friends of mine is pretty cool but when I hear a band I really like, like Sex Faces, it makes me want to be friends with them, I can't help it! I’m not even halfway through listening to it and have already decided I love this album. “Can’t Do That” sounds like a mashup of Stooges and Le Tigre. Bonus points for writing a song for the Society for Cutting Up Men. My buddy Daryl once said he thinks all members of bands should sing, I’m not sure I agree but I think it’s a pretty interesting opinion and I think Daryl will dig Sex Faces big time. Anyone who got into the latest album by The Men which I reviewed a month or two ago should definitely check this out. I could do without the “You’re So Vain” rip but who knows the way my mind works, maybe I’m just jealous I didn't think of it first!?
I’m always a bit surprised when a good band or album from DC isn’t on Dischord. Why? I dunno more like why not? I had the pleasure of opening for Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds last year and while we were watching them I had the thought of leaning over to Dave-O and saying look at how their bass player is dressed, he looks like our kind of dude we should talk to him. Unfortunately due to separate green rooms- hey you can’t fault Kid Congo he’s basically punk rock royalty- we never had the chance to meet him but I later googled and figured out that it was Mark Cisneros the guitar player from Dischord band Hammered Hulls! This anecdote has nothing really to do with Sex Faces other than that Cisneros plays in Desdemonas with Sex Faces’ Jacky Cougar.
I love that it’s on Slovenly tho. Where Dischord is a trumpet for DC bands, Slovenly is equally great at being a truly international label having released great records by everyone from my favourite Canadian band Tommy And The Commies to Indonesia’s wonderfully named Dirty Ass. Sex Faces, also wonderfully named, list scuzzy weirdos Royal Trux as an influence which I can definitely hear in the combined male/female vocals, but I might also have happily heard a little Cheater Slicks on the first and last songs! More than a little rough around the edges and a little out of control. Sex Faces if you’re reading this I’m sorry I never get these reviews done ahead of the release date but hey better late than never right? HMU let’s be friends.
