Their 7" "No Ballets" is unrelenting, angry, and frantic. It was released on Andrew Aircraft's (guitarist/vocalist) own label "Swim Harder Cassettes." Out of everything I have heard from this band this is still one of the most intense albums. Don't get me wrong I still enjoy everything that has come out after this album but I only wish everything coming out continued in this same vein. If I recommend anything from these guys it's this first--it only has three songs and lasts under ten minutes but has the most re-listen value in my opinion.
I am not entirely sure which came first "No Ballets" or "Lot Lizard" but Lot Lizard was recorded in Steve Albini's studio and shows more of a sludgy stoner rock side to the band than the hardcore side that "No Ballets" showed. The LP that follows (Ornaments) is somewhere in the middle ground of the two but I definitely prefer these two albums separately and on their own. Lot Lizard definitely sounds like something that came out of Albini's recording studio. It's got that nicely rounded produced sound it's really clean but this is not something you're going to flick your radio on and hear. If you are a fan of any kind of rock & roll influenced hardcore this is definitely an album for you. The thing I think that catches me is the lyrics are still pretty powerful and seem quite personal or self depreciating. I'm going to shut up now and you are going to go listen to these albums now.
Listen to the band here.
Download both releases here.
