When you spend enough time studying music, you learn that there are some unlikely stories of how bands came together. Blues Pills has as unlikely an origin story as any band you are will encounter. Zack Anderson and Cory Berry (formerly of Radio Moscow) met Swedish singer Elin Larsson in Iowa. They recorded two songs, put them on YouTube, and Blues Pills was born.
With a former member of Radio Moscow, it’s no surprise that the band has some psychedelic sounds. On the new album Holy Moly!, the band shows that it is way more than psychedelic rock. The band also incorporates some garage punk and soul sounds for a blend that will get you to crank the volume.
The first thing you notice about this album is the blend of garage rock and soul. “Proud Woman” leads off the album and gives you a good introduction to this unexpected blend. The rhythm section lays down a solid foundation that features some loud, distorted guitar. The whole package wrapped together with Elin Larsson’s vocals that bring to mind Lisa Kekaula of The BellRays and Rachel Nagy of The Detroit Cobras. At other times on the album, her delivery is similar to Hannah Williams, while on “California”, she howls like Janis Joplin.
The deeper you go into this album, the more you realize that this band has a sound that can blend with a lot of different styles. The guitar sound is so fuzzy (and sometimes psychedelic) that it wouldn’t be shocking to see them on a bill with stoner-rock bands. With the energy the band plays with, it would also fit pretty well in a punk show. Plus, with the vocals, this band could easily open up for Black Pumas or Black Joe Lewis.
“Bye Bye Birdy” is a good example of the range of this band. It starts with some psychedelic guitar and a deliberate beat with vocals that feel mellow in comparison to other songs. That builds to the middle of the song, which is an absolute pounder that is sure to have you pumping your fist as you press your accelerator to the floor. Be warned that you might go hoarse if you try to imitate the vocals in the middle of the song. The song then comes to an abrupt halt, and resumes in a swirl of sounds that might be best experienced in an altered state. It then rises to a crescendo before ending with only Larsson singing, “Bye Bye Birdy, goodbye.”
The band also shows good range in moods. “Low Road” is the kind of song that is made for the stereo of a grungy muscle car and a stretch of highway where you’re unlikely to see any other cars. If you do find this on the stereo of your muscle car, don’t be surprised when the rhythm section induces you to press the pedal to the floor. On the other side of the mood spectrum is “Longest Lasting Friend.” Over a mellow guitar riff that seems like something out of a 90s REM song, Larsson sings about depression being her longest companion. It’s a song that shows country music hasn’t cornered the market on heartbreaking songs.
It is possible (even likely) that you will appreciate this album the first time you listen to it. But don’t just listen to it once and then file it away because the more you listen to it, the more you appreciate it. Especially if you blast it as loud as you can stand.
