My biggest complaint about Melissa and Paul is that it’s inconvenient to get to their music. Some of us just aren’t cool enough to have turntables. I guess that means we have to turn to Bandcamp.
Punknews has a stream of their latest 10″ up (though only two songs from it are available on Bandcamp), and I have to say it blew me away. It’s like they jumped inside of my brain and took everything I like about The Pixies, The Black Keys, The Pack a.d., and Sleater-Kinney, some incredible swagger, and threw it in a blender and gave it just to me. And now I’m giving it to you.
Paul’s drumming is furious, while Melissa’s vocals remind me of early Beth Ditto. It’s hard to tell who’s trying to keep up with who — it’s almost as if they’re competing to see who’s the most intense.
Highlights for me are “Yeah, I’m Alive,” “Ready to Die,” and “Try Hard (Everyday).” All of the songs feature a driving riff that will never leave your head. And I’m fine with that.