Apparently last year some podcaster called Cheekface "the most irritating band in indie rock right now." The LA trio is owning that description as they barrel into their latest era. A few weeks ago they dropped new single "Hostile Street," a bass-popping, synth-streaked iteration of their talky, neurotic-comedic party-time rock. It turns out that was a warning shot for Podium, a new Cheekface LP dropping in July.
Along with news of the new album today, the band has unveiled another new track. "Black Site" leans hard on the cowbell, surfy guitar, and jittery new wave bass in ways that can't help but evoke the B-52s, and Greg Katz seems to be smashing together Killers and Pavement references with the lyric "I got soul, but I’m not Korea/ Korea Korea Korea Korea." (Yes, I realize Stephen Malkmus sings "Career, career, career, career.") There are several more quotables in there, like "I was just thriving/ I was literally just thriving/ Before all this happened" and "If you’re the last to leave will you blow out the burning flags/ If you’re the last to leave would you put out the burning bill of rights."
The vibe is It's the end of the country as we know it, and I feel fine. Hear "Black Site" and "Hostile Street" below.
TRACKLIST:
01 "Hostile Street"
02 "There Is A God"
03 "Peanut Butter Prawns"
04 "The Weather"
05 "MFT"
06 "Rent Is Down"
07 "Black Site"
08 "No Fly Zone"
09 "I Don't Work Here"
10 "EBT"
11 "Discrete"
12 "U Can't Do It"
13 "I Decline"
Podium is out 7/28.
