SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE SLACKERS – WHAT WE GONNA DO NOW? / PICK AND CHOOSE

THE SLACKERS
WHAT WE GONNA DO NOW? / PICK AND CHOOSE
PIRATES PRESS RECORDS

It is often said that less is more, and in this case, The Slackers prove that they do not need a lengthy album to show off their talents, for they do so strictly in the span of two songs. “What We Gonna Do Now?” and “Pick And Choose” both portray two different levels of the band’s skill sets by sharing two creations that are unique, yet binded by voice.

The first of these two songs, “What We Gonna Do Now?”, immediately feels as though one is being immersed into a film. Picture the beginnings of any feel-good movie, where the characters are being introduced as they go about their typical daily routine, with the opening credits visible over each moving image that leads to the real start of the story. Not to mention, the jazz-like instrumentals create that sense of going with the flow, yet the question that forms the song’s name demands attention from the listener, the same way a film does as the plot begins to thicken. With tempos that remind one of songs by Ax and the Hatchetmen, this first half of The Slacker’s newest releases is quite inviting, and also quite telling of who they are and what they do as a group.

“Pick And Choose” strays a bit from the energy that surrounds the first song. Here, the instrumentals give that island feel, with soft metallic twangs and calmer vocals. This song, in comparison to the first, embodies the idea of waves lapping over onto themselves, and does not feel demanding in the slightest. As a result of this, the style, while executed well,  doesn’t feel as in character for The Slackers as “What We Gonna Do Now?” does. Don’t misunderstand, for both songs maintain a certain form of unity with one another, however, the former of the two songs overshadows the second more than one may prefer.

Despite their differences, The Slackers have established that quality is much more valuable than quantity. In the span of just under seven minutes, they have shown their capabilities as artists in a world where everyone is simply trying to overwhelm people with content to consume. These two songs are proof that less is, in fact, more, and how that is such a wonderful thing.

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