Naked Giants, “SLUFF”Some of the best recommendations come from close musical confidants, no? Having been involved in college and public radio since the late ‘90s has been fortuitous for me. I have been lucky enough to get in early, and often ahead of bands’ breakthrough moments.
Before the proliferation of the Internet, what with it being spoonfed your “favorite” new band, thanks to pay-for-play algorithms (see: Pandora, Spotify, Apple Music, et al.), and the commodification of music scenes, you had to work for new music discovery. You relied on college radio and on clerks at your local independent record store. For me, it was also skate videos and magazines like Thrasher. Often, it was like-minded friends who made ‘zines or bought different skate videos. It is also worth mentioning that this was a time before stores like Hot Topic or Zumiez existed. Before the advent of adventure sports. The moniker – not the activities, mind you. I still rely on friends birthed from that same before-time for music suggestions.
As such, a dear, trusted friend in the Pacific Northwest told me to check out Naked Giants prior to their first EP, “R.I.P,” and its six tracks of catchy, hook-filled, scuzzy garage punk. I knew from the opener I’d anticipate a full length.
That full length album, “SLUFF,” was indeed worth the wait, and is more of the same, albeit cleaner and more concise. Guitarist/vocalist Grant Mullen, bassist/vocalist Gianni Aiello, and drummer Henry LaVallee enlisted the help of producer Steve Fisk (Nirvana/Screaming Trees/Beat Happening/Car Seat Headrest) in Seattle to churn out 12 tracks that pick up right where the EP left off.
“SLUFF” is available Friday, March 30, via New West Records on compact disc, cassette tape, and on an initial run of hot pink vinyl. As is now customary, the vinyl also comes with a digital download in your choice of various high quality formats.
Recommended for fans of King Tuff, Jacuzzi Boys, Turbo Fruits, CFM, The Black Lips, JEFF the Brotherhood, and the multitudinous Ty Segall-related projects.
Jon E. Lynch[email protected]
