Blastoids!

mp3: Blastoids "Morning Light"
mp3: Blastoids "Kenny Winker"

The above photo is funny, of course, but it's very misleading. These guys sound nothing like Vice Magazine interns vomiting impressive jets of watery glitter. I was taken aback when I came across the photo on their myspace page while listening to their (FREE!) debut album. From as near as I can tell, they don't make music so much as unleash a cascade of blissed out synthizers and heavily treated vocals. The album, which is impressively produced, is a wonder; a free debut from an unknown band that is already a fully formed entity. "Morning Light," the opening track to Kids Hands Smell Like Glitter, is a gnashing sonic hydra: trance-like synths, four-on-the-floor bass, expressionistic cymbals crashes, chanting voices puntuated by a desparate yell off screen. The song feels both light at heavy in equal measure, delicate and strong at the same time. It's a beguiling opening to an album that offers lots more surprises. The demented Nintendo punk of "Trout Dick," only sounds more horrifying because its next door neighbor is the gauzy and frankly pretty "Mommydaddy." The sad boy dynamics of "For What It's Worth" are more effective because of some very nice percussion work. And the album's highlight is the closing few minutes of "Kenny Winker" (yes, this guy from those great Brad Neely cartoons). All the vocals get washed out in a rush of synthesizers that borders on electronic ecstasy.

Some big boys on the internet weblogs are talking about Blastoids, so these gentlemen from Murfreesboro, TN are (hopefully) about to generate some heat. Make sure you get in on the groundfloor.

Rating: 7/10