Record Review - Finally Punk: Casual Goths

Jagged sounds and riot grrrl sneers provide the backbone to the primitive, rapid-fire rhythms that churn with imperfect sway on Finally Punk’s debut full-length. Released by Deerhunter bassist Josh Fauver’s Army of Bad Luck label, Casual Goths consists of a handful of singles. Jittery tension and no-wave aesthetics are noisy and contemptuous on “Henry” and “Penguin,” but the girly elements turn obnoxious as “Missile” and “Boyfriend App” feel like cutesy little pillow fights. A large part of the record’s charm, however, is in the dichotomy between a sassed-out number such as “Penguin” and the cool plod of “Primary Colors.” There’s a labyrinth of reactionary, anti-pop tension in these grooves, but most of all their shambling cover of Nirvana’s “Negative Creep” will win over the hardest of hearts. (Army of Bad Luck) 3 stars out of 5