The Thousands

Since the Soviet Union went mental, shat its pants and staggered off into the forest the world has been sadly bereft of another Superpower. Not to diss the USA – they do a fine job Superpowerin’ – but the international community is screaming out for a bloc that represents scrappy, imperfect/perfect pop. One that has Brendan Huntley rockin’ the United Nations General Assembly with those funky interpreter headphones. The Boomgates / Super Wild Horses axis is that Superpower.

Some compared the sound of SWH’s debut album Fifteen with that of the Breeders. I couldn’t hear it. On ‘Black Book’ I can. When the girls coo, “You’re the monkey in the tree” it gets real Deal sisters. While it was part of their live set for a while it’s rad to finally hear the song blasting from computer speakers, no matter how shit said speakers may be.

Boomgates’ ‘Everything’ is a departure from the sweet pop of their first seven inch. Here they take on darker, jammier tones. Even a touch of psych! Steph and Brendan sing, “I feel like dying old but I feel like driving home.” What is this, the Velvet Underground? But next it’s about dishes piling up in the sink. World order restored.