Labels: Static Kills
Review by: Andy Malcolm
Roll up! Roll up! Harriet the Spy are back. Maybe they just thought their old name was kinda bad or something so they came up with a new name that I have to say is one of the best I’ve heard in ages. How comes these Ohio bands always get the best names?
This stuff was actually recorded way back 14 months ago, so I make no claims as to whether the band still sound exactly like this or not. I’m presuming they have evolved a little from this sound, as on this 7″ they aren’t exactly that far removed from their roots. “With an Uzi and a 40 oz” is the weaker of the two tracks here, being relatively standard, dynamic post hardcore which sounds for the most part like a subdued HTS with severely distorted vocals. The drumming is like, amazing though. Really carries this song through, and if you’re down with the sound of Party of Helicopters, then the guitars will sit very nicely with you, perhaps even on your lap, if you ask nicely. Most annoying thing: the really cool intro has synths on it, and it sounds awesome. And then they don’t have any electronica at all on the rest of the song.
B-side “Routine Ecstasy” is super awesome. Has keyboards on the intro again, though they sink faster than a stone behind the music and you can barely spot them for the majority of this song. It’s a faster track and it really hauls ass, kind of like some of those songs that steamrollered me flat on the first POH 12″. This is totally rockin’ post-hardcore that makes me want to dance stupidly. One of the best songs of the year. Period.
Whatever these folks get up to, you can guarantee it’ll ooze originality and quality. And that’s what you get on here. If you’ve got good taste in music, you will like this an awful lot, i.e. you think the POH album is the best record of the year. I can’t say fairer than that now can I?