Pink Mountaintops - Get Back

Pink Mountaintops
Get Back
29 April 2014
Jagjaguwar
 
3.5 stars out of 5

 

Stephen McBean & Co.’s fourth studio LP under the banner Pink Mountaintops, Get Back is basically a party in your ears. Its hallucinogen-drenched rock ’n’ roll, now baked in the Los Angeles sun instead of soaked in the Vancouver rain, manages to make angst, misery, and fucking wildlife seem like loads of fun. Much of what’s on offer here is traditional rock fare, but performed with the authenticity of someone who places the most emphasis on the second part of “sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll.” Welcome to 1974, where even the influences hinted at—beginning with the Neu!-like intro of “Ambulance City,” though the Bruce Springsteen tribute that is “Sixteen”—are contemporaneous.

The highlight here is Annie Hardy’s guest rap on “North Hollywood Microwaves,” which simply must be heard to be believed. Go on, YouTube that shit and listen to it now, then come back. I’ll wait. /looks at pictures of cats on Instagram. You’re back? Good. You probably need to take a shower now to get all that cum off your various body parts. Who knows who (or what) it came from, really. There were so many people (and animals) in that dark, sweat-soaked room it was hard to tell. It might even be bear cum for all you know. Regardless of the origin of the semen, your life will never be the same after this moment, after having been fucked multiple times by Hardy and her fellow pleasure dome residents. It’s a change for the better, trust me.

An early contender for the feel-good soundtrack to the summer of 2014, Get Back is a couple of steps below a classic, but not too many paces away from being a favourite. It’s not ambitious, but it’s real, and that counts for a lot these days. It might be wise to cover your furniture with plastic before throwing it on at a house party, just to be safe.

reviewed by Richard Krueger