Something you wouldn’t expect from a guys who wear beer cans on their feet when they perform live.The Growlers continuously put out trustworthy albums. As an avid listen of the Growlers I know I can expect a surf rock feel album with dark and mysterious lyrics. When you go to a live show of theirs, its hard to tell songs apart because they all sound so similar. Don’t get me wrong, why fix something if it isn’t broken? These guys have the surf rock down to a T and have the fan base to prove it.
However, when you’re putting out a fifth studio album, I feel like there should be some variation AND BY GOLLY GEE WHIZ GUESS WHAT?! There actually is on this album. Now, don’t be fooled the first two tracks are typical Growlers. Strummy, beachy guitars, melancholy lyrics, and wonderful backing vocals. But then track 3 (“Chinese Fountain”) hits you like a freight train. BLAM!! Very funky, kind of like the Clash when they went the Reggae route. Sadly though, this track is a DNP. Don’t fret though, the rest of the album is just as wonderful. Track #4 (“Dull Boy”) once again has a Reggae era Clash feel to it and makes you want to move your body up and down, left and right like you’re a castaway at sea (but like a fun, funky sea that you won’t die in). Track #8 (“Love Test”) has a nice surf rock/achy breaky heart country feel to it. Track #9 (“Not the Man”) has such an unexpected feel to it. Its sound is remarkable; without the vocals you would never guess its the Growlers playing. It’s very dreamy. The last track I have to recommend is #11 (“Purgatory Drive”). The name kind of says it all though. Expecting it to be dark and sPoOkY. Kind of like a beach goth that has the blues.
All in all, Chinese Fountain was a nice surprise. Though it only took three weeks to write the songs and about half that time to record them, the album has a nice flow to it and is very polished. Something you wouldn’t expect from a guys who wear beer cans on their feet when they perform live.
Recommended if you like: Tijuana Panthers, Black Lips, Shannon and the Clams, Ty Segall,
Recommended tracks: “Dull Boy,” “Love Test,” “Not the Man,” and “Purgatory Drive”
Reviewed by Haven Harbert on October 3, 2014