pick up the check is the first new music from BODEGA since they put out an ep as nodega last summer.
i've been looking forward to reviewing this thing ever since i saw the band live at their last show on a rainy night last summer in montreal, when they opened for swedish jock punks, viagra boys. that night they also started their short set with a cover of dylan's slow train, later revealed to me to be included on their next record.
so we know 2 things about the next lp: 1. it's paying tribute to the pantheon of rock 2. if the single is any indication, it's the end of the grindcore/nodega era- oh joy!- and a return to their more jangley, new wavy, shoe-gazey, retro-rock sound.
so what does that translate to? something pretty frickin' cool, actually.
i kind of love the opening synths for recalling the cure. i'm not against obvious influences, especially for a rock record, as long as they're done tastefully and cleverly.
this track is long and deep sonically. with over 4 minutes, BODEGA is not trying to score any points from spotify's infamous playlists. there are hooks and several transitions, especially at the 4 minute point in the song, which begins the second to last verse, and some trademark guitar heroics from dan ryan.
the track has lyrics in spades and a massive amount of wordplay - 479!-bordering on word-salad. these aren't bad - though rhyming later and calculator seems a bit sophomoric- and they contain some fun references - "Nail on the head again - Hellraiser". generally, i would say that these lyrics aren't quite up to par for a band that prides itself on songwriting as social critique. and i'm not sure the conceit of this sing being about a date going awry, really works.
bottom line: we need to hear the song in context. when is the album coming out?