VWMusic

Image credit: Andrew Earle

By Andrew Earle

Back in my touring days, we had a lot of local bands open our shows, with names like Digital Pidgeon or Boner Kings (I’m not making this shit up). Some were horrible, some were pretty good, and the odd time was memorable and left me wishing they had a Cassette or CD or something.

Pardoner encompasses bits and pieces of all the ones I never heard of again but wanted to, plus more prominent bands we all know and love. I hear The Pixies, Sonic Youth, Black Flag, and Guided by Voices inside these 14 tracks, as well as All, Ween, and even a hint of Weezer.

It’s not showing proudly like, “Hey, these are my influences”; it’s down deep under the surface where you start connecting the dots subconsciously. The slightly ramshackle production is my connection to all the bands I can’t remember the names of, but left a tiny mark on my brain. Getting things together enough to play a show, but it could fall apart at any moment. Incompetent, no; on the edge, yes, sir.

A song like “Cruel Gun” with a message of blind nationalism is not for me, containing lyrics like “Don’t you wanna be free? It doesn’t matter to me. Because I know the cost of flying home in a box”. They are not your average anti-establishment Punks, to be sure, but this band has enough going for it for a much broader audience than that.

It is a great package overall, with good-sounding vinyl, a nice big lyrics insert, and a poly sleeve for the vinyl. I recommend fans of any genre outside of top 40 pop to check these guys out. Variety enough, you’ll find something that connects with you.

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