Seattle
Share It, 2020
9/10
An Australian trio fronted by Marihuzka Cornelius, the 6 tunes here are full of all the hallmarks of the city it was recorded in and named after, i.e. loud guitars, gritty melody and a rumbling intensity that defined Seattle through most of the ‘90s.
“U & M E” leads with a dark spirit of punchy garage rock that’s pure power and melody, and the speedy punk sounds of “Girls Are Just Fucking Cool Like That” points at some of the best rock ever made in Seattle with a soaring guitar solo amid the buzzing, anthemic setting.
The back half of the listen offers the bouncy bass lines of “Waste Of Time”, where melody is never in short supply, while “I Hate It” takes a page out of ‘90s alt-rock with some grunge nods, almost as if Letters To Cleo grew up on Mudhoney. The EP ends with the classic “Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others”, where Bloods rework The Smiths tune from a feminist slant with their fuzzed out formula adding plenty of muscle to the affair.
A band who grew up in awe of Kurt Cobain and Chris Cornell, Bloods certainly brings those influences to the effort, but are never derivative in this very well done grunge, alternative, punk and garage rock hybrid that easily warrants repeated plays.
Travels well with: Bully- Feels Like; Surfer Blood- Snowdonia