Pet Symmetry recently released their first full length album Pets Hounds. This Chicago power-house features Evan Weiss of Into It. Over It. and Their / They're / There, Erik Czaja of Dowsing and Kittyhawk, and Marcus Nuccio of Mountains for Clouds. After releasing a split with both Dikembe and Slingshot Dakota, and a two song 7" these three glasses wearing gents pooled their respective talents together and have created one of my favorite records of this year.
Sitting somewhere in the realm of emo, power-pop, and indie, Pet Symmetry hash out incredibly catchy energy-filled songs with some of the best lyrics I've heard in a long while. This album is flawless. It's only downfall is that the record is short. All that really means though is you have time to jam through it multiple times. The shorter songs on the record seem to have more punch then some of the longer ones do too, which is really nice.
The record starts with the mellow "My Exhausted Month (Of May)" and it's the prefect opener to this album and one of my favorites. What's so great is the transition from this into "Give Thanks (Get Lost)." The opening to the song is this heavy bass and drum part and it almost feels like the opening song was a tease and your about to dive into some heavy punk record. As soon as you're like, ok let's go, it switches back and it's so nice. They go back to that part later in the song.
"Go Outside (Stare At The Sun)" is my favorite track on the record and one of the shortest so I always have to play it a few times. It's so simple and so great. "Class Action Force (Useless Tools)" is fun and anti-cop which rules and it's about how cops sucks and bust kids for fun. A fun song about how cops suck which leads into "Use Your Illusion III (Knock Knock Knockin' On Evan;s Door)" which is one of the longer songs on the record. This songs is more straightforward and steady which is nice beacause it forces you to notice how great Evan's voice is and how sweet the lyrics are. When the songs are steady like this as opposed to the faster songs, it shows how great these musicians are too. Like my best friend Tim says, "less is more," and it's so true. These dudes know how much is necessary and they are so good. Man oh man.
"Space Ex-Perception (No... Sleep... Til Bedtime)" is one of the funnest songs on the record. Evan sings, "You were the last to know it's my bedtime. I was the last to know it's past bedtime." Enough said. "Aisle (Or Window)" is in my opinion the darkest song on the record and it only lasts for a bit. The riff is darker and rad. The transition into Cereal Killer (Rellik Laerec)" is so good. Some heavy chugging and then, bam, right into it. This song is the shortest and the funnest. This may be tied for first as my favorite song.
"Gone, Gone, Gone (Even Further Gone)" is another one of those songs that slows the pace of the record down and makes you focus on the content and musicianship. I love that. It's also the second longest song. Really great. There are claps!
The album closes with "Salad Daze (Seein' Cred)" and like the opening song, it's perfect as the closer. This song has weight to it. It's the tear-jerker for sure. It's slow and beautiful and heart-felt. It's in my top three favorite songs on the record. It's a definite throwback to some 90's era, taking me back to the good old days type stuff. Just incredible.
Not only is this a fantastic album both lyrically, musically, and production-wise, but you just know these guys are loving it so much. I was lucky enough to see them on tour in July when they came through Boston and they are just solid dudes. Their live set is so energetic and Evan's stage presence and the way they react with the crowd is really stand up. There's a vibe you get from bands that really actually care that you are having a good time and enjoying everything. They were honestly so stoked to be playing as this band isn't their main band, but in my opinion it's the best.
Pick up the record from Asian Man Records and go see them on tour right now before it's over.
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