{"id":129437,"date":"2013-09-03T16:31:31","date_gmt":"2013-09-03T23:31:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shockya.com\/news\/?p=129437"},"modified":"2013-09-03T16:37:24","modified_gmt":"2013-09-03T23:37:24","slug":"artist-of-the-week-pickwick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shockya.com\/news\/2013\/09\/03\/artist-of-the-week-pickwick\/","title":{"rendered":"Artist Of The Week: Pickwick"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pop music has become all too commonplace these days. Yes, I do occasionally enjoy belting out to Katy Perry\u2019s \u201cRoar\u201d or Miley Cyrus\u2019s \u201cWrecking Ball\u201d or Lady Gaga\u2019s \u201cApplause\u201d, but as the seasons change, my playlists must follow suit. Shockya readers, it\u2019s time to say so long to the carefree summer days and usher in the distressed fall days with more thought provoking and less auto-tuned music. Note that this pop music \u201cjab\u201d is mostly directed at the now infamous Cyrus, who was far from serious with her performance of \u201cWe Can\u2019t Stop\u201d at this year\u2019s MTV Video Music Awards. So, let\u2019s ditch the \u201ctwerk\u201d and welcome the tunes from the Seattle rock band, Pickwick. <\/p>\n

Comprised of Galen Disston (vocals), Garrett Parker (bass), Michael Parker (guitar), Kory Kruckenberg (vibraphone), Cassady Lillstrom (keyboard) and Alex Westcoast (Drums), Pickwick tackle the rock genre with immense flexibility on their debut full-length, \u201cCan\u2019t Talk Medicine<\/a>\u201d, which dropped on March 12th via Small Press. The outfit\u2019s elasticity with their sound allows them to dabble in garage rock, indie rock, alternative, folk and at times, soul and R & B. With an indisputable amount of diversity, \u201cCan\u2019t Talk Medicine\u201d is easily becoming one of my favorite debuts of 2013, leaving me positively dumbfounded with one click through. <\/p>\n

One of the catchiest songs off the album is its single, \u201cHacienda Motel<\/a>\u201d, which juxtaposes an upbeat melodic arrangement with darker and far from cheery lyrics. Disston sings, \u201cThat whore she left you bloody, on the hotel lobby floor. Even though she took your money, oh you know she needed more.\u201d Oddly enough, the single still manages to uphold an overall breezy vibe on the album. While each of the 13 tracks off the debut irrefutably deserves a careful listen, the standouts include, \u201cLady Luck\u201d, Brother Roland\u201d, \u201cHalls Of Columbia\u201d and \u201cWell, Well\u201d. <\/p>\n

These fellows are destined for a Jack White collaboration on Third Man Records. I tend to shy away from band comparisons since I pride myself on selecting original talents for \u201cArtist Of The Week\u201d, but if you are a fan of all bands involving Jack White, The Black Keys, Vintage Trouble, The Alabama Shakes and Houndmouth, then Pickwick will be a shoe in for you.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s about time someone saved rock from the falsely lethal ways of pop. Rock is back and better than ever with Pickwick. <\/p>\n