SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FRUIT & FLOWERS – DRUG TAX EP

Fruit & Flowers
Drug Tax EP
Little Dickman Records

Out of the depths of alt rock, a gritty sound emerges with an edgy twist on traditional surf rock.  Fruit & Flowers’ debut EP Drug Tax reels the listener through six tracks of haunting vocals, punchy bass lines and beautifully simple lyrics.

Softly bringing the listener in with a beachy sound and guitar reminiscent of the Pixies, the opening track “Out of Touch” breathes life into a predominantly female sound and ghostly vocals.  With simple lyrics pulling on threads of the ocean or sea (‘…come to my shores’) as is a common thread through out the album, Out of Touch is a bold but minimalistic way to kick off the EP.

The Brooklyn group of four shows maturity through out the E.P.despite this being a debut.  Tracks that include “Subway Surfer”, “Dark Surf” and “Down, Down, Down” show a much darker side featuring cutting bass lines a la “Rock Lobster” that create  an opposing force to the sleepy lead vocals and cheery backing vocals featured on the tracks.

Fruit & Flowers closes their first EP on a strong note with “Pick Fairy” which features a rockabilly sound and a raging guitar solo in the middle and “Drug Tax”, the title track.  This first taste of the grunge surf rockers hailing from Brooklyn prove they are a force to be reckoned with and a sound to be listening for.

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