Dead Meat “The King” 7”/“Early Recordings”

Another keeper from Flingco Sound System's ever-expanding musical palette, I believe "The King" is the first proper physical release from San Francisco trio Dead Meat, and it comes with the nine-song, download-only EP "Early Recordings" (which is also available separately)—containing all of the band's recordings to date. The label states that Dead Meat has "adopted the asphalt drag of primo-era Touch & Go/AmRep bands with a concise and direct delivery all their own", and I must confess that while my experience with such niches is rather limited, that's where my initial impressions are leaning as well. It's kind of a strange blend of the angular riffing, roving basslines, gritty textures, and half-spoken/half-sung vocals that I tend to associate with "noise rock" and some of the dry production values and loose, jangly performance tactics of indie rock (before "indie rock" carried the negative connotations it tends to bear these days). On one hand it's sort of relaxed, but on the other hand that droning, laidback vibe is quite dark and somber, and all the while the material is kind of "catchy" and energetic (in a mangled punk rock way). Then you've got song titles like "Burger Bash" and "Rubber Snake"... I mean, what's to be made of all this, exactly!? It's fuckin' weird. But sometimes weird is damn fine. I dig it.

Dead Meat "Fuck Amsterdam"

The 7" is limited to just 500 copies, and as mentioned above the vinyl comes with a download code for the digital album. Those unconcerned with physical product can purchase the digital download direct from the label for a mere $4.00, and you just can't beat that shit...

Get It

Flingco Sound System (7")
Flingco Sound System (mp3)