Line Out Music & the City at Night

  |  

Monday, March 30, 2009

Album Wave Hello to the Intelligence's New Album, Fake Surfers

Posted by on Mon, Mar 30, 2009 at 3:19 PM

Seattle’s the Intelligence, perennially one of my favorite local rock bands, follow up 2007’s Deuteronomy with a new album titled Fake Surfers (their fourth overall), due in early May on In the Red.

Fake Surfers (recorded in Costa Mesa/Orange County, CA—hence the title, I'm guessing) is another sweet batch of 12 concise, catchy songs that encompass garage-rock, new-wave, lo-fi, and post-punk tactics without falling prey to the clichés of any of those long-in-the-tooth genres. Within their low-budget constraints, head Intelligencer Lars Finberg & co. squeeze a vivid variety of analog tones and charming, tart melodies from their fertile imaginations.

Fake Surfers is much more cleanly recorded than past Intelligence LPs, but slick it ain’t. The Intelligence strike a righteous blend of rough textures, rambunctious rhythms, and appealing tuneage. I’ve listened to the album thrice so far and I hear no duds. I have a feeling these short, sharp shocks of rock (“Pony People” is the longest track at 3:31; most are under three minutes) are only going to improve over time.

The Intelligence’s April 25 gig at the Wildrose will probably serve as their record release party. They leave for a two-month European tour two days after that.


 

Comments (5) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
1
Is "Pony People" a Wounded Lion cover? I love that 7" on S-S.

Also, soooooo excited for this!!!
Posted by Eli on March 30, 2009 at 3:29 PM
2
Hello new album! Yesss!
Posted by KELLY O on March 30, 2009 at 3:52 PM
3
Fuck yes! Nice find, Dave.
Posted by LB on March 30, 2009 at 3:59 PM
4
Eli: Yes, it is.

More info from Mr. Finberg: "yes, that is a wounded lion cover, and their singer Brad Eberhard isn't on that song but sings back ups on 3 songs. brian from christmas island is on 2 of them too. and monty buckles from the lamps is the talking voice on st. bartholomew and plays synth and guitar in other parts..."
Posted by segal on March 30, 2009 at 4:04 PM
5
Oh man, people from Wounded Lion, Christmas Island and Lamps too! EVEN MORE STOKED!!!
Posted by Eli on March 30, 2009 at 5:43 PM

Add a comment

 

All contents © Index Newspapers, LLC
1535 11th Ave (Third Floor), Seattle, WA 98122
Contact Info | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Takedown Policy