The Molochs, “America’s Velvet Glory”
Available at your local independent record store: Friday, Jan. 13th via Innovative Leisure on compact disc and standard black vinyl. Digital versions (MP3, FLAC etc.) available from the label as well as the Molochs Bandcamp.
Innovative Leisure is relatively infantile as far as record labels go, founded in 2010 by Nate Nelson, Jamie Strong, and Hanni El Khatib. While many independent labels were (are?) fledgling in the age of streaming services and gross digitization, Innovative Leisure seems to be making it happen. The label has a boast-worthy roster with acts such as BADBADNOTGOOD, Tijuana Panthers, Bass Drum of Death, Khun Narin’s Electric Phin Band, Holy Fuck, Nick Waterhouse, and a slew of others. While stylistically varied, all the artists mentioned have managed to release solid records beloved to both the harshest of critics and the diehard fan.
Los Angeles’s The Molochs are the latest to do so for the label with their sophomore effort “America’s Velvet Glory.” Singer and songwriter Lucas Fitzsimons, along with guitarist/organist and longtime bandmate Ryan Foster, crafted a record of infectious garage pop that veers in and out of “proto-punk-y folk-y rock, Modern Lovers demos and Velvet Underground arcana.” The songs ring familiar but not so derivatively to be knock-offs. There are 11 well-crafted and catchy cuts that you may find yourself humming – or wanting to hum – long after the record has concluded.
Recommended for fans of The Modern Lovers, Daniel Johnston, Deepakalypse, The Velvet Underground, White Fence, Violent Femmes, or early Foxygen.
Jon E. Lynch[email protected]
