LoveJoys, the sophomore release of Seattle’s Pickwick, shows a band that doesn’t fear reinvention, and is embracing the waves of change. 4 years after their self-released Can’t Talk Medicine, and also after some internal turmoil with the band and the loss of a member, Pickwick is back with a more polished, grown up sound: “We rediscovered what we do best by not overthinking what we make, and learned to love the process of creating again” relates vocalist Galen Disston. “LoveJoys is a specific type of euphoria,” says drummer Alex Westcoat “a liberating feeling of inspiration that can only be achieved through the sacrifice of one’s own ambition. It is the shedding of expectations; an uninhibited escape into a world of child-like infatuation and wonder.”
Released just a few weeks ago on Small Press records, LoveJoys sounds like the Bee-Gees’ “Saturday Night Fever” album if they had hung on to the dreaminess and psych of “Odessa”.
From its very first track, LoveJoys is simply a fun album to listen to- and boy, is it full of sex appeal. The album opens with “Turncoat”, which borrows the bass groove of “Stayin’ Alive” but makes it dirtier and sexier, and adds in psych-style reverb and dreamy echoing vocal harmonies that give the tune a modern edge. “Ascension” turns the bass to 11, sounding like Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground” on a tab of acid. Things continue to get groovy with “Lying In The Dark”, the album’s most psychedelic track- featuring 60s-esque organ, loads of reverb, and impeccably layered vocals that create a hazy, psychedelic dreamscape.
Other standout tracks include the exotic jazz on “Which Way You Go”, and the slinky, ultra-danceable “Light It Up (Let It Burn)”. The most impressive track on LoveJoys however is its closer, “Ammonia”. “Ammonia” is 5 minutes of sexy-as-hell, perfectly paced grooviness: singer Galen Disston’s vocals are pitch perfect throughout the entire track, hitting the highest falsettos with ease and seducing the listener with every note. The track rises and falls in a way that’s completely captivating. It’s funky, and psychedelic, and sexy, and absolutely phenomenal.
Pickwick’s LoveJoys is the perfect soundtrack for what’s left of Summer- soulful and sexy, with danceable grooves and just a hint of psychedelia. The band is also currently on a Summer tour throughout most of the west coast- for those in the SF bay area, you can catch Pickwick August 17th at The Chapel. POW will be there!
Watch the video for “Turncoat”:
Buy LoveJoys as a digital album, or on ultra-hip purple vinyl here
Follow Pickwick here
Written By Sheena Salazar for POW Magazine
sheenacheyennesalazar@gmail.com
