Pleasureboaters: ¡Gross!

Pleasureboaters
¡Gross!
Don't Stop Believin'
2008-10-12

There is certainly no lack of temerity throughout the 12 tracks on the Pleasureboaters debut album. Known for their rambunctious live performances, ¡Gross! is a visceral display of the band’s slash-and-burn, Liars-style garage punk. Whether it’s the pulsating rhythm on “State of the Union”, the unnerving dissonance of “Elliptical Realism”, or the trash riffs and funk appeal of “Leopard Print Babyware”, the Pleasureboaters have an unapologetically abrasive sound, led by singer Ricky Claudon’s impassioned yelps and vacillating screams. The Seattle trio has seen some support from the local blogs (and, more importantly, local indie radio station KEXP). The attention is well deserved; the band has a combination of raw energy and lo-fi quality which is hard to come by in today’s polished recording climate.

RATING 6 / 10