Half Modest: The Archie Bronson Outfit

I think I’d make a horrible juror. Lawyers can be so sneaky, using their wiles to trap you into thinking whatever their client is hoping, and I tend to fall for the same old tricks. Take for instance my appreciation for singers with imperfect voices: I’m always convinced that the reason those who screech their way through songs are better is that they must actually feel the words stumbling out of their mouths. It’s such a clever ploy, and I’ve found another sneaky band to add to my list of favorites: the Archie Bronson Outfit.

Domino sent me this London-based trio’s 2nd album Derdang Derdang recently, and I’m agog. This is bluesy-rock with a screechy voice that sits somewhere in the vocal range near Jad Fair’s and Isaac Brock’s, and maybe the whole sound is even part Half Japanese, part Modest Mouse. Gahbless those twangy guitars and persistent bass lines, those crashing cymbals and frequent yelps. Whenever I listen to this album, I wonder why more singers don’t just bark when they have nothing better to say.

And a note to all bartenders out there: this would be the perfect accompaniment to drinking. Buy it, bring it to work, and try it out on your patrons. I’d love to know how it works out.

• Listen to “Dart For My Sweetheart“
• Listen to “Jab Jab“