eMusic Review 0
When Crocodiles released their debut, Summer of Hate, in 2009, they were part of a new crop of Southern California bands, along with Wavves and the Soft Pack, who delivered a lo-fi take on seedy, thrilling garage rock. Singer Brandon Welchez cultivated a persona of the nihilistic rock star, sporting a late-'60s Dylan-style 'fro and hocking loogies on stage while performing tunes like the goth-punk anthem "I Wanna Kill." One year later, Crocodiles' tough-as-leather image has softened a bit — but their music is no less thrilling as a result. On Sleep Forever, Welchez and partner Charles Rowell ratchet up the hook quotient significantly for an album long on fist-pumping anthems.
Crocodiles tapped Arctic Monkeys producer and Simian Mobile Disco member James Ford to helm the sessions, cut in a Joshua Tree, California, studio stacked with pricey vintage equipment. Their increased ambitions shine through on some of their most focused and ambitious music yet. "Girl in Black" is a gorgeous reverb-dunked drone and the righteous "Sleep Forever," which mixes an almost funky guitar hook with a giant, booming beat, sounds like a long-lost girl-group-pop gem. The band hasn't totally abandoned their jones for lo-fi noise-punk… read more »
