Pep Squad has moved to Tooth and Nail for their new release, Yreka Bakery, bringing all of their energy and hooky creativity with them. This record is a leap forward in style and musical maturity from the debut on BEC, No Doy. Now a four piece band, with Bradley Swanson on bass and Evan Railton on drums, led by Bryan Everett and his sister, Kim on guitars, the Squad rings full, and sometimes, even big. With a little help from producers Gene Eugene and Chris Colbert, Pep Squad sounds great.
The disc starts out a little slow for me with the distorted rumble of "Wild Pack" and the pop-alternative sound of "Freak Show," but then the record takes a dramatic step up starting with the cover of Adam Ant's "Friend or Foe." The Squad does a fine job reproducing the sound and coolness of the original with a slightly updated attitude. The rest of the CD is very sweet, smooth, and sonic. Musical styles range from acoustic alternative to ragged punk-pop, with a mix of all things in between, plus disco.
The lyrics are good, although they are not the focus of the band. I do enjoy the thoughts of God's help in these songs such as: his love shown in answering prayer ("It's a No"), his attributes ("Birds and Fleas"), and the rewards for his own who run in, and finish, the race ("On that Day").
There are also songs about common situations that strike a chord of harmony among us, and then, of course, songs that are just plain fun. The number five song, "The Fabulous Moolah," hits me both of those ways. I remember seeing The Fabulous Moolah wrestle on TV and in person in the early and mid 80's. An old woman even then, she is still around and teaching pro wrestling. The Adam Ant song takes me back, and "The Floor" puts me back on a '70's disco dance floor in stacked shoes. It's funny how a new record, from a young band, can bring back memories from long ago. However, Yreka Bakery is not really a CD for your parents. It is as new and up to date as the Jetsons, or stacked shoes, for that matter. It rocks with good old, timeless creativity.
4 tocks
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #77Reviewed by Amanda NelsonPep Squad delivers a cool new CD, Yreka Bakery, through Tooth & Nail Records; not nearly as dark as their previous project and a little more fun. "Freak Show" is just that; a bit freaky but really playful. "On That Day" is very spiritual with lots of Bible lyrics, and much more mellow than I expected, and "The Fabulous Moolah" is a really cool song that I can't stop singing to myself. The beat…The Lighthouse Unsorted 1999Reviewed by Alex KlagesCute idea, to name your album after a mythical bakery, whose chief claim to fame is being palindromic. Fortunately, long after the novelty of the album title has worn off, the melodies of this fine 4-piece band from the northwest will be floating through your head. Because of their band name and the label that they're on (Tooth & Nail), it would be easy to prejudge Pep Squad as just another…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Steven S. BaldwinGive me a P! Give me an E! Give me another P! Give me a S - Q - U - A - D! What does it spell? PEP SQUAD! Go Pep Squad, go! If the band name Pep Squad mentally conjures a group of alterna-pop cheerleaders, you would be close. If you envision a gaggle of cutesy, short skirt-wearing, guitar-playing, tumbling teenagers, however, the analogy has gone too far (although the band has been known to…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Michial FarmerPep Squad must not like to write lyrics. Of the twelve songs on their latest album, Yreka Bakery, one is a cover, one is taken directly from Scripture, and one has no words. The remaining nine tracks are all ultra-simplistic, lyrically, as the song "Wild Pack" shows: Right over here Right loud and clear Throw them to the hogs Wild pack of dogs and they chase you down This is the song in its…Similar sounding releases
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