To Smithereens by Gay Beast
Gay Beast formed mid-2005 during a fit of anxiety towards Midwestern passive aggression and as an attempt to make music that was queer in composition and aesthetic. Wielding a battery of drums, scraped and hammered guitars, chanted vocals, retro-future synths, saxophone, and other electronics, the trio (Angela Gerend, Daniel Luedtke, Isaac Rotto) build songs on grounds that adjoin complexity and catchiness, a space where both abrasion and tunefulness inhabit.
With releases on DNT, Gilgongo, and Skin Graft, Gay Beast have garnered a reputation for uniqueness on the rock fringe, their sound being both too weird for the stereotype of a “gay band” and “too gay” for the noise-rock set. Upon examination of the influence blender, one finds remnants of Devo, Captain Beefheart, equatorial pop-rock from the 60s and 70s, no wave, and feminist theory. This concoction, delivered via Gay Beast’s unique political approach to composition, is explored heavily on their third album “To Smithereens”, appearing on Skin Graft Records.
Tracklist
| 1. | Poverty Witch | 3:37 |
| 2. | Dot Dot | 1:54 |
| 3. | Lottery | 4:25 |
| 4. | # (number) | 1:13 |
| 5. | Compact | 1:46 |
| 6. | Poly ASX | 2:16 |
| 7. | Right Through | 4:34 |
| 8. | Smithereens | 3:32 |
| 9. | We Keep Our Victims Ready (LP Version) | 3:57 |
| 10. | Probably Won't | 3:59 |
| 11. | Goodbye World | 5:51 |
Credits
Isaac Rotto / Guitar
Daniel Luedtke / Keyboards, Sax, Vocals
Angela Gerend / Drums, Electronics
License
All rights reserved.Tags
Gay Beast formed in 2005 as an attempt to make music queer in composition and aesthetic amidst the passive-aggressive backdrop of Midwest, USA. Wielding drums, guitars, vocals, synths, saxophone, and other electronics, the trio built songs conjoining complexity and catchiness, abrasion and tunefulness. The latest album, "To Smithereens," is now available from Skin Graft Records.