Sloppy Heads: Sometimes Just One Second (Shrimper Records) – Album Review
Reviewed by Harry Kaplan
If you took The Pixies, The Velvet Underground, The Black Lips, and The Jesus And Mary Chain and threw them in a blender and ground ’em up real good, you would end up with the essence of Sloppy Heads. This is just what the doctor ordered if you like your music noisy and a little sloppy. And when I say sloppy, I am talking in a good way. How is sloppy good, you ask? I’m glad you brought that up. Sloppy in this context means not terribly worried about playing everything note for note. Leaving room for improvisation and focusing more on the groove and the chemistry of the musicians rather than just the technical aspects of the music. I guess a synonym would be “looseness”. But that is a very touchy thing. There is a balancing act. You can’t be too loose or too tight and Sloppy Heads get it “just right”.
There is more than a little bit of acid soaked music on “Sometimes Just One Second“. They even cover New Speedway Boogie by the Grateful Dead. If you needed proof of Sloppy heads commitment to psychedelic music, there it is. It is very interesting how times have changed. Way back in the 80s and early 90s if a punk or alternative band would cover The Grateful Dead, they would lose all of their street cred. It changed slowly thanks to Jane’s Addiction covering Ripple back in 1991. It was still considered risky for alternative band to show any affiliation to the Dead. But that was then and this is now. Now it is very “chic” to cover the Dead and even list them as an influence. And Sloppy Heads knock it out of the park. The integrity of the original is still there but the men and women of this rock and roll outfit really soup it up nicely adding female vocals and plenty of dissonance. If you like the Dead and proper use of feedback, put this version of New Speedway Boogie on repeat.
Like the Grateful Dead, Sloppy Heads don’t seem to shy away from a six or seven minute song. Forget about the three minute pop song. Sloppy Heads have no use for a three minute pop song. Well, that’s not entirely accurate. There are some two and three minute ditties on this release, but there are also a fair mix of the six and seven minute songs. Of the songs with this flavor profile, Baby Becoming rises to the top of the heap. Steeped in psychedelia, Baby Becoming is a perfect exclamation point to close out this 14 song collection. It’s like car packed with options. It’s got your 60s style organ, great guitar fills, a very punchy bass line, and super stellar lead and backing vocals.
I would be remis if I didn’t mention a song that is just straight up garage rock. And the winner of the garage rock prize goes to Love Is A Disease. A song that is right out of some basement in middle America with parents upstairs trying to ignore the noise as the youngins crank the amps up to 11 and belt out the tunes. This song would fit in any generation from the late 60s to present day. This one deserves a second, third and fourth listen. I thoroughly love this song. And it builds up to a nice crescendo at the end.
Sloppy Heads have emerged as top contenders in the music scene of 2023. With their captivating sound and distinctive style, they have managed to put together a stellar album. Their infectious melodies and energetic numbers leave a lasting impact on listeners. With exceptional talent and creative vision, Sloppy Heads are poised to make waves in the music industry. With December approaching, all eyes are eagerly anticipating their next move. Their passion and dedication shine through in every note they play, solidifying their position as a standout band. Sloppy Heads are a force to be reckoned with, and they are here to stay.
Check out Sometimes Just One Second here