Visqueen: Message to Garcia

Visqueen just announced their breakup, with a farewell show to be played in Seattle on November 26, 2011. It’s such a shame, as their third album, Message to Garcia, represents not only a musical high point in the band’s decade of making music, but also a breakthrough of sorts in terms of national attention. A punk-pop farewell to frontwoman Rachel Flotard’s father, Garcia is both thrilling and heartbreaking, encapsulating everything that made Visqueen such an exciting band. From the guitar crunch and harmonies that propel “Your Love” to the ache that runs through the cello-driven standout “So Long”, Message to Garcia is both a celebration and a eulogy. Informed by death, Message to Garcia brims with life, joy, and the anthemic release offered by rock and roll.