Fucko are a new power pop trio from Massachusetts. And Dealing With the Weird is their debut record.
And it totally kicks ass!
No, seriously, this is one of the best records i have heard in a long time. In fact, it has been in near constant rotation here at EvilSponge HQ since we got the promo back in January.
So, yes, we have been sitting on this review for 4+ months now. I have no excuse this time either as it's not like i lost this promo. It's just that this record has proven hard to write about. I guess it kind of hurts that every time i start playing the album, i get lost in the grooves and the melodies and the way the whole thing just lurches forward. It's hard for me to type when i am bouncing in my seat so much!
But, i must persevere.
First things first: do you like catchy indie rock? If you do, then this is an essential purchase. Let's just get that out of the way. Go and track down a copy of this. You can thank me later.
So what do they sound like? McClusky. Magnapop. Dinosaur, Jr. Velocity Girl. Luigi. All of that and some 80s band whose vocalist has a similar voice and the name of which has been on the tip of my tongue for at least three months now, but that i can never quite get.
Fucko features a girl who sings in a clear, sometimes nasally voice as she chords her way through a mess of distortion. A bass rumbles and drums pound and everything shambles along messily. It's an energetic blast.
There are thirteen songs in about 37 minutes, so it's pretty average in length for an album. All of the tracks are interesting, but i'll go over the real standouts.
On Submarine Fucko hit a deep groove with the drummer going berserk, the guitar fuzzed out, and the bass a deep, echoing rumble. Catchy and fun.
The bass is a powerful thunking on 20 Foot and the vocals are a little lighter. The overall effect of this song is the closest that anyone has gotten to McClusky since that band broke up.
The first truly delicate moment on the album comes halfway through in the intro to Wake Up when the vocalist sings over a fuzzed out guitar, like she is making folk music for aging noise punks. The song goes along for a bit, and then kind of pops as the drummer comes in and the guitar plays this killer riff, and the band kind of hammers at it for a minute as the whole song fades out. This song grows really wonderfully.
The album closer, Buzz is another real winner. The bass squeals and the drums pound a happy beat as the song bounces the album to a happy close.
And that is something i like about this record: it is not moody or angry. Fucko are there playing and goofing off and making an unholy racket and they are having a blast. That comes through in listening and makes the whole record seem even more enjoyable.
Now, they do violate my Prime Directive of Band Naming (i.e., you should not be embarrassed to say your band name in front of your Grandmother), but i think i'll forgive them.
And seriously -- go get a copy of this.
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