A Real Sensation
Donut Sounds, 2020
8/10
A Seattle outfit spearheaded by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Jena Pyle, the Texas native uses her art in therapeutic ways- even dedicating this album to her therapist- as Sundae Crush weave in and out of a unique brand of colorful bedroom pop.
The album starts with the bare, dark mood of “Kiss 2 Death”, where whistling and a desolate guitar gradually add wordless vocals, and this ominous opening then bursts into the jangly indie-pop of the summery strumming of “Long Way Back”, where vocals are both melodic and firm.
An album where each tune offers new surprises, “Green Lake” points towards the early days of proto-punk, where ebbs of soft beauty align with raw drumming and soulful saxophone from Adrienne Kerr, while “La La” is brief display of avant-garde pop that’s as playful as it is experimental and even brings in a flute from Pyle. “Sensation”, one of the album’s best, then moves swiftly with a garage rock spirit as the scrappy music suits the harmonic singing splendidly.
As we get near the end, “What Do I Need?” is a softer moment of pretty indie-pop, and the initially dreamy “Dudes Being Guys” finishes the listen and shifts into a quick, punky tune before transforming into a blurry synth-rock exit that will bring you back to the mid ‘80s.
An aptly titled first album, Pyle and company make a hefty impression here, with their kind of quirky and very nostalgic brand of song craft that’s as likely to bring to mind The Velvet Underground just as it is Bratmobile, and I don’t think anyone is going to have a problem with that.
Travels well with: Lizzy Young- Coocoo Banana- VvvV- The Wreck