Album Review

Roy have now signed with hot indie label Fueled By Ramen, and their label debut likely renders this five-song EP somewhat obsolete, but man, these are good songs. This is the new project for guys who trace their roots to two hardcore bands, Botch and Harkonen, and it‘s produced by Hydra Head Records go-to guy Matt Bayles, and you‘d do well to keep your eyes on this band. The vocals bear a striking resemblance to Initial Records compatriots Helicopter Helicopter, telling storytime vignettes, snapshots of the Pacific northwest Roy calls home; it‘s like songs like ‘The Bolivian Army Lays Siege to Seattle‘ have a private joke that the band wants to tell the listener. Vocalist Ben Verellen has a subtle, ironic touch in his voice when he sings, "I‘m alright with the whiskey/I don‘t mind if you smoke/we‘ve all got obligations/to sad, pathetic jokes." Tacomatose is a tale of yearning, stagnation in a gray city, and rangy, classic pop rock.