Local Music Review - Heavy Midgets - Super King At this risk of sounding like a local fan-boy, Heavy Midgets impress the shit out of me.
As pathetic as it sounds, maybe it has to do with the fact that I have NO IDEA what they're doing on guitar. Every time I see them live, I end up standing there like a freakin' toolbox trying to figure out all the strange voicings they use throughout their songs. As an admittedly-mediocre guitar player myself, hearing the way they combine those angular rhythms and dissonant chords with such snaky (and sometimes shredy) lead lines is always inspiring to hear considering how catchy the final product sounds. It's anything but conventional, but never comes across as flashy.
And the solos? In the same way that Dinosaur JR isn't afraid to bring out a classic-rock-guitar-solo in the middle of a indie rock jam, the Midgets know when and how to crank it to 11. All technical elements aside, perhaps my adoration stems from the male-female dynamic that is so perfect for their Pixies-meets-Beat Happening brand of twangy lo-fi deliciousness. Each singer certainly has their own style of writing, giving the record a refreshing sense of momentum between tracks. In a way that reminds me of Sonic Youth's prettier moments, when the two singers meet for harmonies and call-and-response sections, everything warmly falls into place despite the noise and feverish intensity that surrounds them.
Delivered with the same brand of laconic detachment that defines the most iconic indie singers, Charleanne and John manage to squeeze out some of the catchiest melodies they've ever shared, pushing the listener to take a second to hear what their singing about. With surreal wordplay full of the kind of psychedelic imagery that makes lyricists like Robert Pollard so infinitely fascinating, the Midgets have made a record that only reveals its complexity after the third or fourth spin. All unnecessary rambling aside, this record epitomizes everything I love about the band. Compared to their last release, which was also great, Super King marks a confidence that was just peeking behind Sister's more-subdued sonic palette. This time around, the vocals are stronger and catchier, the drums are downright ROCKING (mad props to Bren Hall, who is one of the most passionate drummers in our little scene right now), and the band has never sounded tighter. Please listen to it when you get a chance, otherwise I'll keep talking about it non-stop.