Over the years, my ex-bandmate always tried to push Quasi on me like he was Natalie Portman genuflecting before the altar of The Shins in Garden State (This band will change your life!).
I always resisted this hard sell, due in no small part, to the voice of Sam Coomes, who seems to be locked in an ongoing struggle to out-whine Wayne Coyne. Then, in 2003, Quasi release Hot Shit and the title track sees me eat a heaping plate of crow. High expectations for their latest, then.
Bludgeoning fuzz bass truculence and the wrecking ball drum attack of Janet Weiss mark the first few tracks of the album. Indie rock’s second most notorious divorcees hit their stride on “Peace & Love,” riding a deft segue into the elegaic “Beyond the Sky.” All in all, not a wretched record, but life-changing? Sorry, we’ll have to keep that adjective in check until this year’s version of The Dears comes along.
For more info see: theequasi.com
