Santa Fe
The Coasts
7-out-of-10
It's currently five days before Christmas and instead of thinking about the holidays I'm dreaming about summer. I've recently been struck ill, which is a very rare occurrence. So, with a head full of some serious cold medication, I went off in search of summer time sounds to remind me of what warmth is.
I found The Coasts, a lovely two peace rock outfit from Little Rock, Arkansas. After I blankly creeped through their Facebook page for about half an hour I clicked back to their Bandcamp to listen. I was greeted by a heavy wall of screechy drums and guitars. Luckily, not bad screechy (trust me, there's a difference), but a delicious lo-fi power rock sound.
This short EP, entitled Santa Fe, is dripping with enthusiastic rhythms and catchy as hell beats. For a two piece masquerading as a three piece, these guys have a lot going on. Drums, a guitar and a bass complete the instrument section while a voice that seems to be singing at the top of its' range hums over it all. Doing a lot with a little is easy when great melodies and bass lines are incorporated into the tracks. Whether it be the guitars or the vocals, there is constantly a hook to get stuck in your head. The drums shift smoothly through mid and up tempo danceable beats always offering a head bobbing good time.
Now, thanks in large part to the cold medicine, I was able to dance my way through my mind and warm up on a beach while enjoying this record. It's a crisp listen that goes by far too quickly, and yes, may be labeled by some as "noise", but definitely quenches the thirst of those who love the genre. Plus, a part of the proceeds from album sales will go to the Hope For Haiti's Children charity. Check them out at thecoasts.bandcamp.com
-SEAN CRAIB-PETKAU
