The GOTOBEDS "Poor People Are Revolting" LP

     Taking their name from a member of Wire has probably made it easier for some of today's rock critics to pen some words about Pittsburgh's Gotobeds. They just gotta glean some lines from some decades old reviews, find some parallels while listening to the album once (because, well, who really needs to spend more time with a record than than that if you've already have your reference points in order and a one sheet in front of you) and hit send.
    Anyone who reviews this record like that though is gonna look the lazy fool as well as missing out sounds the band is actually making.
     With a snare drum roll, "Fast Trash" barrels the album right out the gate with a electric shock chug that's spent more than just a night Sonic Youth's Daydream Nation and a melodic six string splatter which no one would doubt if it said it had the Fall circa Brix on its speed dial setting. A serpentine guitar melody wiggles it way through the song while singer/guitarist Eli Kasan voice bounce between a heartfelt bawl and a contemptuous bark. It's a formula that works well for the band and then, when adding twists like the overly antsy garage blues riff on "Rollin' Benny", the woozy tempo shifts of "To & Fromme" and the "A-ha! See! You can cite Wire's Pink Flag right there!" choppy chords moments of "Affection" and "Wimpy Garcia (Brotherfucker)", hit the euphoric smart guy punk rock/nervy pop conglomeration right on target.
     Though the raucous but clever of the songs about could find themselves worming into music part of the frontal lobe the big pick to click (if such things still exist) is "New York's Alright (If You Like Sex and Phones)", a re-recording of a song from a previous single that not only serves as a tribute/diss to some of the bands of a current ilk that the Gotobeds may find themselves lumped in with but also wrings a few Swell Maps songs of their twisted hooks for something that intoxicatingly toxic.
     The ten minute finishes with "Secs Tape" that builds up to slashing storm before descending into a collapse. Exhausted, and in need of a pick me up, starting the record over again will do the trick.
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