Smooth Brain Demoted EP
Back in the early 2010s, the same troupe of Cleveland scamps behind acts like PERVERTS AGAIN, CRUELSTER, KNOWSO, and the CARP put out a couple of 7”s under the moniker SMOOTH BRAIN. They recorded a third 7” in 2014 that got shelved for whatever reason until it got rescued by Just Because, who are issuing it here for the first time. Compared to the releases from their other projects, this record feels downright conventional. It’s five quick tracks of downstroke punk that mixes mutant pop and dum-dum slop, occupying some territory halfway between the HEX DISPENSERS and the SPITS. Honestly, it sounds like something that might come out on Dirtnap. Of course, these dudes can’t avoid getting their weird-ass Cuyahoga stink all over things, so even if you couldn’t guess the specific players here, it’s not like you’d mistake them for anybody normal. It’s maybe not the most memorable thing these guys have put out, but nevertheless, it’s a cool piece of history for one of the era’s most interesting (and best) collectives. Plus, it rips!