Pray for a lousy day. Then, when you have successfully willed a gray, soggy, viscous kind of afternoon, go into your basement–or just any basement with speakers, really–put on Wimps‘ new record Suitcase and just vegggggggggggggggg out, man.

The Seattle trio, comprised of scene veterans Rachel Ratner, Matt Nyce, and Dave Ramm, make self-aware slacker rock that flirts with 21st century nihilism, laziness, ennui, and all the necessary components of cynicism that allow any normal person to function on a daily basis. Take for instance the celebration of living in self-effectuated squalor on the album’s second track, “Dump”. Or perhaps consider the catch-as-catch can ethos of “Take It As It Comes”, and how quickly it turns to laughable defeatism: “I. Know. This. Sucks. Sucks. Sucks.” “Vampire”, The first track off of Suitcase also reminds me of the foreboding bleakness of The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Bullet with Butterfly Wings”. Though the subject matter invites languishing, wallowing, and life-force forfeiting, every track is decidedly energizing.

I think this has to do with how tight the group sounds. The sluggish indolence that Wimps celebrates in their lyrics belie how punchy and in sync the trio sound. Every track is taut, but frayed; rawboned, but explosive. Dive in above and let us know if you are digging–you can preorder the album here.

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Featured Image by Stacy Peck