Reviews

Lolipop

Crocodiles Upside Down in Heaven LP

L.A.’s CROCODILES have been a mainstay in the rock’n’roll scene for years now, and they sound tighter and brighter than ever on their latest Upside Down in Heaven. Ten punchy, power-poppy bangers that recall the best of the early days of Stiff Records mixed with a moody shoegaze sheen. Lead single “Degeneration” sounds like Arabia Mountain-era BLACK LIPS tipping their cowboy hats to the WHO, while title track “Upside Down in Heaven” sounds like the Reid brothers adding some color to their palette. And while sticking closely to the revved-up “April Skies” sound, CROCODILES keep things feeling fresh with surprises here and there, like the ripping saxophone on “Surfin the Dead,” or the sterling guitar work on opening track “Love Beyond the Grave” that would make the STROKES proud. Just in time for summer, Upside Down in Heaven is a blast and wouldn’t be out of place bumping from a stereo on the beach with a beer or three.

Straight Arrows Surface World LP

STRAIGHT ARROWS have been at it for a long-ass time. This LP, their fourth, now means the Sydney act has released a record in three different decades, something that’s pretty hard to fathom thinking back to their 2007 debut 7”. That was a record of unsustainably wild garage punk—two songs that elicited the same sense of danger you’d get from the best tracks off a Back From the Grave or Teenage Shutdown comp, the sound of a band burning too hot to last more than a couple of 45s. They’ve kept at it though, polishing their sound and sharpening their songwriting chops over the years, and they’ve put out a handful of excellent tracks in that time, but they’ve also noticeably cooled off a little with each release. Unfortunately, Surface World doesn’t see them bucking that trend. You can’t argue that the eleven songs that make up the record aren’t expertly crafted. They’re in some sense good, but they also never really feel like anything. A slick-as-shit production doesn’t help either—everything sounds super thin and distant, making for moments that can at best theoretically rock. It’s a collection of songs that sound tailor-made to be featured over the speakers at J Crew. Music to shop for sweaters by!