For the second time in just over a month, I was digging around the internet for content related to a song I was writing about and I came across a reference to a certain club with a particular name. Curious, I dug further this time and ended up down a rabbit hole of articles and videos about said place.
Apparently, The Smell is an all-ages, DIY, punk, arts and culture space, that was instrumental in the launch of a number of L.A.-based musicians throughout this new millennium. Artists that have played there include Warpaint, Ty Segall, Best Coast, and Moaning. Sisters Jennifer and Jessica Clavin not only often played The Smell with their first band, Mika Miko, but they volunteered there as well.
I haven’t checked out Mika Miko at all but by all accounts, they were a pretty great live act. The garage rock quintet was formed in 2003 and in the seven years before they split, released a pair of full length albums and a half dozen EPs and singles. In 2011, the year after Mika Miko called it quits, Jennifer and Jessica started up Bleached. Under this moniker, there’s been three successful full length records, each charting on the Billboard charts, and though they haven’t officially called it a day, they too seem to be on hiatus.
I came across Bleached with their debut album, “Ride your heart”, back in 2013 and found myself hooked. They mined a similar 60s girl group sound structure as that of Dum Dum Girls, but instead of the wall of sound shoegaze imbued by Dee Dee Penny, the Clavin sisters preferred to hang on to their punk roots. With most of the tracks in the two to three minute range, “Ride your heart” is gunshot raw, and at times is aggressive and discordant, but at its heart, it’s really a pop record rife with ear worm melodies.
“I never wanted to lose the boy I loved the most
I never wanted to hurt the boy I loved the most”
Track four is the longest song on the album, clocking in at just over four minutes, and this is mostly due to a dreamy intro that lulls you into thinking this might be a slow love ballad. Then, the foot stomping on kickpedal wakes you right up and the marching bass line drags you into the fray. The vocals and guitars play a bit of call in response during the verses with flourishes that have the potential to induce whiplash and the choruses are all fist pumping and shouting along wistfully for the one that got away. “Dead in your head” is big, bold, and anthemic and yes, demands replay after replay.
For the rest of the Best tunes of 2013 list, click here.
My (life in) music lists 