Review Summary: Pure concentrated mozzarella stick energy
Fitting for an album that fades in with a warped compilation of Looney Tune soundbites, Trash Classic thrives on quirky manic energy. The garage punk at the root of Frankie and the Witch Fingers’ sound is accompanied by electronic elements and an irreverent new wave attitude, playing out like a sort of Devo on steroids. The makeup may make the band look a little different but it remains in character for their high octane pursuits.
A considerably less fuzzy production job lets the musicianship reach full bombast. The vocals really get to lean into the cartoony character with alt-tinged theatrics, the drums maintain an urgent sense of momentum, and the guitars hang onto a bright tone with an abundance of psych tinges. The synths also color the proceedings with retro-futurist whimsy, reinforcing the ironic attitude.
The songwriting’s relentlessly upbeat pacing also helps to maintain the zaniness. “TV Baby” and “Total Reset” speed off to the races with danceable frenzies while “***sake,” “Economy” and “Conducting Experiments” hit bouncy grooves that play like King Gizzard covering The Knack. I also appreciate the songs that invite the album’s weirdest turns as “Out Of The Flesh” sets its driving rock to a clinking mechanical beat while the closing title track sees its pep spiral in and out of dark disorientation.
Overall, Trash Classic is a bizarre assortment of genres that play out like concentrated mozzarella stick energy. The off-the-wall energy takes the right mood to feel out, but the songwriting ensures a tight execution with enough catchiness to maintain appeal. It feels more committed to the bit than other similar new wave dabblings by groups like Osees all still maintaining the core character of Frankie and the Witchy Fingers.
