Night Court may have a silly name, but the band feels sincere and (mostly) serious. Rooted in garage-punk, the sounds are familiar in form but each track on this 12-song record gives a different energy. Generally speaking, it’s melodic and positive punk with a lo-fi DIY vibe. There are elements of the old Plan-It-X sound but with a little more reflection and less caffeine. Take that DIY garage-punk concept and add a dose of ‘60s psych bands with their calm harmonies to counter the anxiety.
The album, along with the previous Nervous Birds! One, were recorded on 4-track during the height of the pandemic. As just described, there is a lot of familiar ground on this record but it’s also unique from song to song. It’s clear that three different songwriters had a hand in things, and the record is better due to that variety.
“Afraid Of The Dark” kicks it off, and the lyrical snippet of “If the economy don’t get ya/ all the differing opinions and politics surely will” gives an idea of what the band is about. But it’s not all serious, working-through-your-troubles adversity on the record by a long shot. “Surfin’ Iona” has a beachy B-52’s thing going on, while “Nocando” is a nigh-instrumental with a spooky yet playful groove that balances the band’s dichotomy. Sometimes it’s serious but sometimes it’s silly. Think garage rock’s rawness, ‘60s psych’s harmonies, well-timed feedback, and some pop sheer that cuts through that murkiness to make you smile. “Kill The Poor” has a quick-building punk rawk melody with some call and response vocals that suddenly shifts into a big pop moment complete with a “nah-nah-nah” singalong. “Where’s Waldo,” which closes the album, has similar pristine elements that break through, with some downright Beach Boys-esque harmonies over a soaring guitar climax.
It’s a good mix that sounds nice on a record and undoubtedly sounds even better in your local basement venue.
