Shellshag: Jesus, this is going to sound corny, but Shellshag’s songs sound like a handmade card made just for you on a special occasion. I understand that the record that’s spinning wasn’t made just for me, but their three songs are just so warm, personal, and direct. The nutshell is that it’s arty, noisy rock but not mechanical, pretentious, or privileged. Think Hickey, not a party where people look at one another’s asses, eyeballing for labels in envy and/or judgment. This Bike Is A Pipebomb: This is coming from a guy who, for the past eight years, alternates between two identical cut off pairs of grey shorts—there’s a comforting expectation with TBIAP. Within acceptable parameters, one knows what to expect from them—no techno, no made-for-ringtone songs, just fiery, catchy, stripped-down rock and folk, delivered, well, like folks who’ve been doing it awesomely well for years and years. Two originals and a Shellshag cover. Sing-a-long fun times.
–todd (Starcleaner / Plan-It-X South)