1996: Having established myself as a regular customer (as recently discussed here) at Route 66 Records in Greenwich Village (long gone), I reveal myself to be something of an easy mark to excitable proprietor Andy, who immediately starts evangelizing the just-released singles by a British indie band called Kula Shaker. I take the bait and end up buying the CD singles for both “Tattva” and the embarrassingly titled “Hey Dude,” both featuring brazenly retrophillic allusions to the hippy-dippy psychedelic era and the guitar heroics of lead singer/songwriter Crispian Mills (son of actress Hayley Mills) who does effectively channel the soaring tones of Dave Gilmour on “Tattva.” When their debut long-player K (that’s it … just K) comes our soon after, I snap that up, as well, and even see them play live when they swing into Irving Plaza some months later. After that, however, my enthusiasm wanes with later, comparatively tepid releases and I abandon ship, somewhat perplexed by my earlier affinity for their music.2010: Despite regular testimonials to their greatness by my at-the-time colleague, Drew, I remain resolute in not giving the band Pissed Jeans any consideration, prompted by their stupid and frankly disgusting name. I figure that if this band can’t come up with a better name than Pissed Jeans, they simply do not deserve my time and attention. Undaunted, Drew demands that I see them perform when they pull into town to play at the tiny firetrap of a club on Ludlow Street, Cake Shop (long gone). I reluctantly agree, and we pack into the downstairs performance space with about a hundred sweaty hipster kids (as described here). In exceptionally short order, Pissed Jeans reveal themselves to be a fittingly slovenly mess of a band, somewhere between Black Flag and the Jesus Lizard, and their name IMMEDIATELY makes perfect, immaculate sense. Their music and their show are repulsively glorious, and I become an immediate fan, vowing never to doubt Drew again. I then proceed to search out Pissed Jeans’ latest album and then subsequent releases, and harbor zero regrets.
2024: In the first week of January, both Kula Shaker and Pissed Jeans release brand new singles (see below). The new Kula Shaker single, with only a quick cursory play, suggests that the band have not progressed or even budged one single inch forward since their K days. I shall not be snapping this one up with the zeal I once reserved for them.
The new Pissed Jeans single, while strangely in an otherwise unthinkable major key, is still hugely enjoyable.
Experience both for yourself.
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