SOUNDTRACK: SKATING POLLY-Fuzz Steilacoom (2014).
“Ugly pop” is how Skating Polly describes their music. And it’s a pretty good descriptor. Their music is loud and brash and the two members can both sing pretty and scream loudly.
Both Kelli Mayo & Peyton Bighorse play drums and guitar and piano and they alternate for different songs. Kelli’s instrument is more of a bassitar–a bass with just a couple of strings on it.
How on earth do they make such a big sound with such limited equipment? And how do they write such great songs?
I guess at this point it’s worth mentioning that Kelli and Peyton are stepsisters and, when they made this album in 2014, Kelli was 14 and Peyton was all of 19. How, then do they make music that sounds like a perfect continuation of the riot grrrl 90s? Catchy, with lot of distortion and a whole lot of pogoing.
The other fascinating thing about these songs is that they are short. You’d assume that fast punky songs–with only two instruments and no guitar solos!–would barely clock in at 3 minutes. But these songs are almost all 3 and a half, some pushing four minutes.
“Alabama Movies” has a cool staggered riff with a high bass note that stands out in a really cool way. The song is smooth and rocking until the chorus where Kelli lets her shriek flag shine and the song totally rocks. “Scummy Summer” has a very different sound–more tinny and guitar-based–including a moment mid-song when all of the fuzz drops out and it’s just a clean guitar and simple drums. I’m assuming that this is a Peyton song. They trade-off styles like this throughout the album–some heavier, some lighter, but pretty consistently with a lot of distortion.
“Ugly” really shows off what they can do. Opening with some acoustic guitar and whispered vocals, the rest of the song follows a rumbling bass line and thumping drums:
I wear my face just like my skin
Dried up, paint-free, and authentic
I let my hair just soak up grease
I brush it with my fingers, see?
and then this more disturbing third section, in which they don’t hold back:
Suzy went to school this morning
Suzy went to class this morning
Suzy was loudly droning
Suzy told the class her story
You can look in the mirror
Might not like what you see
You can try to change it
But you’ll always be ugly
And you’ll always be nothing
They mix up some of their style even more with songs like “Break Your High” which is almost fast folk. This one has a waltz beat and acoustic guitars. The rest of the album plays with these dynamics in interesting ways.
They sisters are very impressive with their tightness-t-hey stop on a beat and change styles mid-song as easily.
I’m a little underwhelmed by the production of the record. Specifically the drums, which sound like they are made of cardboard. The guitars (especially Kelli’s bass heavy one) sound great though.
The final song, “A Little Late” throws everything out the window and shows a totally different side of the band. It’s a five-minute piano song with the lyrics sung in a round–both Kelli and Peyton singing over and over each other. It’s really interesting and quite catchy. the way the song slowly builds, adding new instruments. There’s a lot of components to the song, but I especially like:
Chase away the thoughts that make you hate
‘Cause hate does not create
And hate at best will just keep you a little late, a little late
This was their third album. I have yet to hear their earlier two, but their follow-up was pretty outstanding.
[READ: October 17, 2017] Brave
Tabitha chose to read this book because she really liked Awkward. It takes place in the same universe, and I love that the characters from Awkward make a cameo.
Peppi (Penelope) is back in this story but she is a very minor character. Indeed, the book says that there will be more books set in Berrybrook Middle School presumably with many different characters in the lead.
This story follows Jensen, an overweight, socially awkward, not-terribly-bright boy who has anxieties but generally doesn’t feel that he is being picked on (he is).
Peppi is part of the art club and that’s where Jensen finds some friends, too. (more…)
Read Full Post »
I Just Read About That... 