There's always one thing you can count on from Seattle punks Wimps — they know how to make monotony sound good. Wry recounts of relatable, mundane life struggles are the band's bread and butter, and they address them with witty energy through call-and-response shouts by Rachel Ratner, Matt Nyce's hefty bass lines and Dave Ramm's explosive riffs.
On Suitcase, the band's new full-length, Wimps stay true to their signature juxtaposition of cynical subject matter and contagious melody. They celebrate living in filth (messy bedroom, crumby sheets, transient on the couch) with punch on "Dump," accept defeat, infectiously, on "Take It As It Comes" and agonize about forgetting to pack underwear and socks over woozy guitar on the title track.
Some songs are, at least sonically, a shade darker than they've been on past releases — "Capitol Hill" reflects on a pill-popping stint over pulsating chords, while "Basement" expresses the discomfort of an overheated basement through off-kilter instrumentation. Though the contrast between that and their bouncier material is slight, it gives Suitcase a sense of depth to add to humour on Wimps' musical calling card.
(Kill Rock Stars)On Suitcase, the band's new full-length, Wimps stay true to their signature juxtaposition of cynical subject matter and contagious melody. They celebrate living in filth (messy bedroom, crumby sheets, transient on the couch) with punch on "Dump," accept defeat, infectiously, on "Take It As It Comes" and agonize about forgetting to pack underwear and socks over woozy guitar on the title track.
Some songs are, at least sonically, a shade darker than they've been on past releases — "Capitol Hill" reflects on a pill-popping stint over pulsating chords, while "Basement" expresses the discomfort of an overheated basement through off-kilter instrumentation. Though the contrast between that and their bouncier material is slight, it gives Suitcase a sense of depth to add to humour on Wimps' musical calling card.