Peer Validated

Pictured:  Mouthful of Bees are too cool for study hall. 

Afternoon Records of the twin cities has been garnering some attention as of late.  The DIY attitude, and rollicking, fun attitude that pervades all the bands on the label is best exemplified by Mouthful of Bees. 

In their debut album, “The End” MoB use a mix of guitar licks, claps, snaps, low-fi drums and groan-ee vocals to let you in on the party.  It is probably going to be one of those artsy parties, where the girls dress up too much and the guys have nice jackets on over band t-shirts, but it’s fun and generally pretty safe.  Just don’t drink the wop.  please. 

Stand out tracks include, Serpent, which sounds like it could be played over the top of a scene where Bill Murray tracks down pirates who have taken over his ship, and murders them ruthlessly.  Tracking in at 7:10, it’s not exactly your typical pop song, but MoB isn’t your typical band.  They manage both to have a “low fi” sound, and yet occasionally have complete walls of reverby guitar goodness.  Also, I dare you not to get MoB’s single, “The Now” stuck in your head after listening to it.  It’s got the perfect party lovin’ drum beat, a couple of guitar riffs that sound like they came from happy hipster green acres country, and whisper perfect vocals.  C’mon punk, double dare.    

Lead singer, Chris Farstad croons and groans his way through all the tracks and is really condusive to the whole, “I’m pretty cool, and I’m pretty excited, but not too excited, so just cool your jets.”  vibe that pervades the record.  That’s not to say that Farstad sounds like he doesn’t care; it sounds like he cares, but that he doesn’t need to care.  He’s not showing you THE way, he’s showing you A way.  If you like it, cool.  If you don’t, whatever man. 

Whatever.

 So long story short:  These guys are from the cities.  They make great music.  They will blow up huge.  Listen now so you can have cred later.