Super American Eagle are the ultra-fuzz psych trio from Naarm, Australia who release their eponymous debut album this month. Brent DeBoer of The Dandy Warhols, Dave Mudie from the Courtney Barnett band and Bob Harrow of Immigrant Union, played an impromptu Immigrant Union NYC show as a three-piece. That night the chemistry was undeniable and so Super American Eagle took flight.
The album kicks off with `Yes` and it`s a fast-paced hazy blurry kind of retro stoner trip with higher pitched vocals that appear ready to let rip but manage to keep themselves in check. A number that is pretty mesmerising and came out of a collaborative band jam. The wonderfully titled `Shit`s a Thing` races off at one hundred mph and it’s a fuzzy groove laden head funk of a number.
`Payroll` was written about “being stuck in a dead-end job or relationship and no one gives a shit about you” and it does have a kind of doom-laden vibe that mirrors the monotony of an existence that`s not really going anywhere, a kind of “same shit, different day” vibe. We enjoy a more introspective, thoughtful composition in `Gone` which reflects on a relationship that`s gone south over an absorbing fuzzy aural landscape.
`God` I read is about being alone but not necessarily lonely and has a recurring sub garage rock rhythmic beat with lyrics that almost become mantra like. We have a much more sonic trip in `Youf Uck` where the vocals blend into the overall sound which becomes pretty spellbinding as it evolves.
`Mark Of The Beast` is a riff laden sludge fest that for me hinted at a slowed down psychedelic version of Sabbath`s `Iron Man` and had a kind of similar lyrical outlook. The band have shared that there`s a Led Zep air to `100 Times` a delightfully compelling melodic submission about the push and pull or repulsion and attraction of things.
I felt there was a bit of a Beatles ambience to `Trampling` a charming melodic number written about a former love interest. The album closes out with `Mac` a song written about an infatuation with somebody. It runs at just under nine minutes and is an all-encompassing listen with digeridoo tinges sprinkled in as it develops. A track that i`m sure Timothy Leary`s counter-culture phrase best sums up in “Turn on, tune in, drop out” .
There was much to enjoy on Super American Eagle`s debut release which although had a fuzzy stoner and at times doom vibe had some delightfully melodic and harmonious tunes for you to devour.
A cracking groove-laden opus which will stay with you long after you`ve imbibed it`s delicious flavours.
Rating 8.5 /10
