Artist: The Plurals & Black Sparrow Press
Album: Split
Label: GTG – Something Dancey – Minor Bird Records
Release Date: April 1, 2014
Format: 7″ Vinyl Record
This release is another treasure that I acquired some time ago. A split from Lansing, Michigan’s The Plurals and San Pedro, California’s Black Sparrow Press. The cover of this split features printed line drawing with colored pencil “coloring.” The effect makes the cover super vibrant and fun to look at, a different take for sure. The actual record is a black 7″ labeled as “P” and “B” respectively.
The first song from The Plurals, “How About The Weather?” brings shredding guitars and punk rock insanity all encapsulated in one track. Melodies flow in and out while the drums and guitars pound out the punk rock fun. The second Plurals track, “Clouds,” brings a more traditional punk sound. The breakdown in the middle gives the song the touch of awesome that I have come to know from the Plurals.
Black Sparrow Press open right up with a mid paced pop punk song titled “Adult Braces.” This song exemplifies everything I would expect from a pop punk band, upbeat guitars and punk rock choruses . The second track “Lady, I Love You” is by far my favorite from them, the guitars for me are reminiscent of The Wipers. Black Sparrow Press really show the west coast sound here.
For me pop punk has never been my favorite genre of music, and I would classify The Plurals as more punk than just pop punk. I love the sound they create, punk rock with melody and nasty driving guitars. Smash the Beach Boys with the Minutemen and you might get close. The flip side brings Black Sparrow Press which is much more of a traditional pop punk sound, well recorded and performed. Opening my ears allowed me to find a way to appreciate pop punk in a different way.
Photos by Nibiinabekwe. Alpena County Michigan.
Thoughts on the photo shoot, I feel the need to address.
This project is about getting out of my comfort zone, finding music, exploring the world around us, and putting the media in a memorable place. Also attempting to capture my feelings about the music in written form.
Nibiinabekwe and I hesitated on doing the shots at this spot but we went ahead with it.
Personally as an Anishinaabe, I found this to be somewhat disturbing, but also felt a need to document this in our project. The road where this was shot is on our way to town. I pass this regularly, no one is ever “home” and I think this is a hunting cabin. But he is always there, looking at me.
Alcoholism, and the evils it is associated with, has hit close to my family for generations, not only in my personal bubble, but my fathers, his fathers and beyond…
So, here sits a “red man” with his booze and his gun. And this is all in good humor right? I cant even put into words all the emotions this brings up. But here it is, everyday in my life.
Hate is alive and real today. Just good fun right? Or is it hate? I have my feelings and opinions.
– Binesi