Review → O Pioneers!!! – Neon Creeps (2009)
O Pioneers!!! - Neon Creeps
Here it is, the first great album of 2009. O Pioneers!!! is a pair of guys from Houston, TX, who have released a bunch of EPs and split 7″s with various bands (including the previously-mentioned split 7″ with Asian Man Records’ Mike Park). This is their second 12″, following their self-titled album. They play minimalist, muscular, gritty pop-punk. This record is their latest, and is out on Asian Man Records.
The band seems to specialize in midtempo rockers. There’s not a whole lot of blistering, lightspeed guitarwork here, instead they focus on driving rhythms to back up the throaty “singing.” The vocals remind me strongly of early Hot Water Music (Chuck, not Chris), particularly on opener “Saved By the Bell Was a Super Good Show.” Yeah, the titles of the songs are- keeping with modern trends- kind of ridiculous.
I’d say, on first listen, “Stressing the Fuck Out” is probably the strongest song on the album. It’s irresistably catchy, while also being a good introduction to the band’s sound. And if you like that song, you’ll probably enjoy the rest of Neon Creeps.
The album finds the band sticking with what they know, while throwing in enough variation to keep things from getting too repetitive. After the first two songs, they have the courtesy to slow things down with the post-punk-ish “Dead City Sound.” Though the vocals get a bit stale after a while; the singer doesn’t have quite the ability of Chuck Ragan, though he enunciates better than Chuck did on any of Hot Water Music’s records, so point for being able to figure out what on earth he’s singing about. Which often has little to nothing to do with the song title.
If you’re a fan of Hot Water Music-style post-hardcore, this band will be right up your alley, and this album is a great place to start getting into the band. I don’t know that it will attract a whole lot of new listeners, but here’s hoping.
ShareTags: o pioneers!!!