Make It Plain / Deep Pockets - Split 7"

Dead Broke (2012)

I've had this 7" kicking around for quite awhile.  The fine folks at Dead Broke had tossed it in with an order I had placed with them at some point.  I couldn't tell you exactly what I had ordered in that package, but it's always nice to get a little bonus.  For one reason or another, I just didn't get around to listening to this split 7" until very recently.  It's about time that I did.

First up we have Make It Plain.  I'm very impressed by the two songs that they contribute to this split.  Make It Plain has a really distinct Silver Scooter, but with female vocals vibe to them.  The first of the two songs, "Fresh Start" is the more upbeat and catchier of the two.  It's definitely the one I prefer.  "ICU" is no slouch either.  It's not as fast and more deliberate, but despite its slower pace the song has strong energy and, to me, kind of veers into Boys Life like territory a bit at the end.

The other half of this record is a band called Deep Pockets.  As much as I dig Make It Plain, Deep Pockets is the real star of this 7".  On "Cyclone Cellar" Deep Pockets blast through with fuzzy guitars and a singer that really has a Lou Barlow type delivery.  This is real Bakesale era Sebadoh style rock in the best possible way.  "I Like To Have Dinner Every Night" is a little weirder.  The guitars are more muted and the vocals are pretty much just spoken.  The lyrics are someone odd talking about things like going to Ikea and getting into a fight with Randy Savage.  I don't know if I love it, but it's interesting if nothing else.  Still, "Cyclone Cellar" is so damn good I am absolutely going to dig up some more info about these guys.

Make It Plain / Deep Pockets - Split 7":

https://deadbrokerekerds.bandcamp.com/album/make-it-plain-deep-pockets-split-e-p

Deep Pockets - Knitting Circle 7"

Deep Pockets - Knitting Circle 7", a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Art Of The Underground (2012)

Another single from the great Art of The Underground 7" Series, this one from a band call Deep Pockets. I'd never heard of them prior to this 7", but they deal in a currency I appreciate; Noisy 90s influenced indie rock. "Knitting Circle" is a pretty good song, chugging along with a good chorus and some chunky guitar riffs, but unfortunately the band ruins it with a totally unnecessary breakdown toward the end that literally starts with the lyrics "Here's the serious part of the song." I then falls into a spoken word mess. The B-side is a Silkworm cover, "Wet Firecracker." Though it mostly makes me think I really need to go back and check out Silkworm again, because this song rules.

There some hits and some misses with the Art Of The Underground series, this one being kind of in the middle, but whenever I see a package from them in the mail, I'm always very glad I'm a subscriber.

Deep Pockets - Knitting Circle 7":
deeppockets.bandcamp.com/track/knitting-circle