Review / 200 Words Or Less
Low Culture
Evil

This EP runs all of 4:59, featuring two new cuts from Low Culture. The band just released a full-length earlier this year on Dirtnap Records, Screens, and it’s making waves—at least in this writer’s household. With that aside, this 7” jumps right into the heart of melodic garage-punk, very in tune with the Dirtnap sound (though this comes courtesy of Drunken Sailor Records). The production values are a bit earthier than the full-length, giving a dirtier sound that removes some clarity from the individual instruments but leaves the strong melodies intact. 

The A-side, “Evil,” is an upbeat jam more on the poppy side, playing off group harmonies and toe-tapping beats. The B-side, “Slave to You,” varies this with a stronger bass level and some big hooks right at the bridge, followed by singer Chris Mason’s vocal inflection that carries the melody across. The songs are both worthy complements to the full-length, but they don’t go above-and-beyond either. They deliver punchy, poppy garage with melodies that get caught in your head without wearing themselves out through repetition.

The hard part in rating a 7” is they’re usually good or bad, but few are great (and I just won’t get into the terrible). This one here isn’t exceptional, but the songs onEvil are definitely above average. They’re case-in-point examples of what makes Low Culture a noteworthy band and they’re fine slices of melodic and rhythmic accomplishments, but they aren’t the best songs the group has released this year either. Ultimately, it’s a worthy companion piece to Screens, but fence-walkers are better off picking up the full-length.