TRASHCLUB finally returns with their long awaited sophomore effort“Big Horns On My Truck”. As far as new records go, this one does what few are brave enough to attempt in today’s current musical landscape, namely, get loud. In a sea of faceless “sound-a-likes” chasing the flavor of the moment TRASHCLUB continues to rock fast, hard and with a blatant disregard for what everyone else is doing.
Continuing in the vein of their first release “Black Out” the group (which splits time between Los Angeles and Atlanta, GA) set out to make a record their pioneering heroes would be proud of. Instead of latching onto to the reoccurring themes and styles over-saturating Spotify playlists everywhere, TRASHCLUB’s sound harkens back to the days of the Ramones and Motor City 5. This is intentional on the part of chief songwriters in the group Evan Andree and Travis Bunn. “Our goal is always to get moving fast in these songs, and to not overthink what we are doing” Says Andree. “The whole idea behind punk when it was first becoming a thing was to be minimalistic; just vocals, loud guitars and drums and bass.”
While their sound is in good company with contemporary connoisseurs of gutter rock like Fidlar and Japandroids, it’s also on its own plain of existence. In songs like the anthem to mediocrity “Getting By”, Andree’s staccato vocals feel like a machine gun blast over the pounding toms and palm muted guitar riffs. “Be With You” is decidedly very “Trashcluby” and feels like the most natural progression of of what the the group started on their first record.
All things considered, some art is meant to be just part of a fad, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But some creativity stands the test of time and can resonate in any decade (or century). Does TRASHCLUB fall into this category with “Big Horns On My Truck”? Ultimately they really don’t care. They’re here, they’re loud, and they do what they want without asking permission. And this very ethos may have sparked the creation of a record that will still be relevant for many years to come.