A 45rpm record, I have a good stack of these beauties leaning against my record shelf. I dig them simply for what they are; a quick snap shot of a band. Back when 45's were all the rage, they usually sported the "radio hit" on the A-side and the "I have no idea why they chose that tune" deep cut on the B. Unless, of course, the 45 in question was released by The Beatles; in those cases, legendary verbal wars were fought (and are still being fought) over which song was better suited to be the A-side. It's true. Don't believe me? Look it up! Or don't.
For now, fuck The Beatles. Let's bring this to a level where the 45rpm record can just be about a band and a moment in that bands life. For me, when a band releases a 7" with no intention of it being a promo for a full-length album, that's the one I want to hear. When a band gets creative with the limitations of only having 4 minutes and 30 seconds per side, that is absolutely my kind of 45. When that "snap shot" becomes something unique and stands entirely on its own in a bands catalog, give it to me.
Case in point, Cedar Plank Salmon, a 2-piece drum/guitar combo from River Grove, IL. have gone and put out a beauty of a 45. A three-tune'r that serves as the perfect introduction into their raw, 70's style art-pop world. If the Velvet Underground had been pedal geeks and hung around at Wayne Coyne's house, I'm thinking that what you find on this 7" would be pretty close to the end result. CPS serves up noisy, garage based rock tones soaked in delay and reverb, it's a very interesting and easy-to-get-into sound; Trip Pop, if you will.
I really dig the dynamic that has been created between the two sides; on the A-side you find the catchy garage-pop of "Oh Baby (Rock In His Sock)" and, after giving it the flip, the melody driven shoegazey/psyche vibes of "Bedroom Grease Fire" kick off the B-side. When "Grease Fire" glides seamlessly into "Bikini Thirst" you're sent off riding a killer little outro tune that perfectly brings this record to a close. "I was born, born for the summer, with an unquenchable bikini thirst." Who wasn't? Fantastic lyric. I'm looking forward to hearing where the band takes things with their next release.
Cedar Plank Salmon and this 7" can be found at one of their live shows or over at their record label, Cavetone Records.
Go. Get. Some.
Go. Get. Some.
Tim Gurnig: Guitar Sam Svita: Drums
