IN REVIEW: Peach Pit - "You and Your Friends"

The sophomore album from Vancouver dream-pop outfit Peach Pit marks a turn toward more vibrant textures and a more laid back, summery aesthetic; this is completely expected, as virtually every band ever has taken at least a couple of records to find their sound and hit their stride. Peach Pit are no different, here tweaking their self-professed "chewed bubblegum pop" into something that resembles a chilled-out Arctic Monkeys, but if Arctic Monkeys had been mostly influenced by, say, Elbow instead of The Strokes. In an attempt to clarify that confusing comparison, Peach Pit's songs tell stories of long lost loves and mundane late nights in a way that recalls Arctic Monkeys' early discography, but with the hard-edged indie punk replaced with dreamy lite rock and shoegaze.

When You and Your Friends is at its best, I swear that analogy makes more sense; take opener Feelin' Low (Fuckboy Blues), which conveys the feeling of awkward college love. Or standout Black Licorice, a banger that rides a catchy, hazy melody while singer Neil Smith laments the burden he becomes on his friends when he parties a little too hard. Figure 8 sounds like one of those massive British rock hits of the oughts, though it's a tale of the love that skated away in true Canadian style. Then, there's Brian's Movie, which features yet another big, melodic groove and another heartbreaking story.

Admittedly, the record does start to rinse and repeat as it goes, and I usually do like a little more variety so there were some songs on the B-side that didn't stick out to me; the notable exception is current single Shampoo Bottles, which finds Smith wallowing in the wake of a break-up through the belongings that were left behind. It's simple, funny and just a bit crushing, which I think might sum up much of my feelings about the record as a whole.

As time goes forward and they continue to refine and branch out their sound, it sure feels like Peach Pit have the chops to produce a truly stunning album; there are a handful of slight surprises that pop up within songs, such as the distorted solo on the title track and the dance groove of Puppy Grin. With a little more adventurousness, I think You and Your Friends could have been a more engaging listen. Still, it's definitely worth your time, especially if the weeks of isolation have you dreaming about summer. Let's hope that doesn't get cancelled, because even with the heartbreak that lives within these songs, there are a few sunshine soundtracks here begging to keep you company at the beach and/or patio.

April 3, 2020 • Columbia
Highlights Black Licorice • Brian's Movie • Shampoo Bottles

Year in Rock 2025

Alright, I've got some explaining to do. By now anyone who's visited this blog is well aware of how infrequently I've used this space in recent years; aside from the occasional fertile year of content, I really haven't posted all that often over the last five years or so. There are many reasons for this, which have already been outlined in previous apology posts; but, essentially, it boils down to my own laziness and the cold reality that blogs are, like Refused (again), fucking dead. So, I wouldn't hold my breath for a triumphant return to reviews, or even semi-regular posts, but: a) I feel like Year in Rock posts have always belonged here and, even though I've experimented with different methods of presentation recently and been satisfied, the "blink and you missed it" unveiling via Facebook stories this year was perhaps ultimately a disservice to the records I lauded. After all, cramming the list into short videos isn't too far off from ju...

Year in Rock 2013 Nominee: Arctic Monkeys

ARCTIC MONKEYS Do I Wanna Know? From: AM Released: September 10 That Year in Rock 2012's Single of the Year R U Mine? ended up on this album is pleasing, and it fits the motif well enough. But R U Mine? isn't what makes Arctic Monkeys' fifth album an Album of the Year contender. Sweaty, sultry and pulsing with sexual energy, AM is the kind of record that's just as effective whether you're chilling out after a long day, staring into a mirror prepping yourself for a late night clubbing session or setting the mood for some escapades in the boudoir.

Year in Rock 2023: Album of the Year #10-1

Now we're getting somewhere; the top ten, where there are no duds or mids, only bangers. Also, no more teasing it out; let's wrap this up! What I've learned this year from my ten faves this year is that it is indeed still possible for a dude approaching his fifties to more or less stay up to date on the new school. Of course, there are some listed here that got a boost from playing tribute to the old school, but there is an undercurrent happening in rock that points to the future. But, I'm getting ahead of myself; here come the champs. 10 MILITARIE GUN Life Under the Gun June 23, 2023 • Loma Vista Highlights Very High Will Logic Never Fucked Up Once Rising from the ranks of the still-potent L.A. hardcore scene, the debut record from Militarie Gun (following a trio of EPs) bears a dash of polish that's expected with backing from a larger label; the tension and energy remain, though, resulting in one of the catchiest hardcore albums I can think of in recent years. 9 ...

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