Amateur Anthropologist - New Mistake
Amateur Anthropologist - Take 5
It should be pretty clear by now that I’ve got a crush on garage punk. Fast beats, lo-fi sound, yelping vocals and lots of jangling, that’s what does it for me. It just sounds so fun, you know? So here’s yet another garage punk band I found on bandcamp (Marry me, bandcamp! No, for serious). I’m writing this to take a break from working on an updated resume for the Peace Corps, who’ve been stringing me along so long I feel like an abused girlfriend (“No, they hurt me because they love me!”), so I guess it’s appropriate that the band is called Amateur Anthropologist.
This Michigan group has a hell of a lot of energy, and if you live in that area I bet their live shows would be a blast, especially if, like me, you enjoy dancing like an over-caffeinated child. They’ve got all those great garage punk qualities I listed above, plus some really bitchin’ basslines. Amateur Anthropologist reminds me a little of The Buzzcocks, but with a rougher sound. I’m sharing my two favorite songs off their EP Digging Up Bones, Baby! (Which would really relate more to archeology than anthropology, but, hey, I’m not gonna nitpick). “New Mistake” sounds sweet and upbeat, but also a little sexy and dark, and I love request to “Let me be your new mistake!” It’s fast, short, and makes me want to dance like the aforementioned coffee kid. “Take 5” is adorable; I can imagine some cute teenaged punk playing this for the boy he’s secretly crushing on (Yeah, that’s right, my hypothetical teens are gay, because I am just like hella subversive). Right from the moment you hear that first guitar riff, you know you’re in for a good time. I also love the little drum interludes that start around 1:28, and then the round of slightly dischordant “La la la.” I'm pretty much always a proponent of people singing, "La la la," actually.
Amateur Anthropologist’s sound is relentlessly energetic and catchy, and they’ve got two albums up for free download on bandcamp; I only just snagged The Winter EP, but I’m guessing it’s going to quickly be on just as heavy of listening rotation as Digging Up Bones, Baby!.
I'm a huge fan of the band in the metro area and they put on a hell of a show! Their energy and emotion live makes you want to break things, dance, and have a genuine good time enjoying genuine good music. The chemistry between them is tight and makes them relate able with how laid back and cool they really are. AA (as known around these parts) is a band to lookout for!
ReplyDeleteDecent band back in the day. I saw them a few times. Heard the bassist backed out. He sang most of the songs. How are these guys still riding on his coattails........?
ReplyDeleteThe bassist you speak of was the 3rd bassist in the Amateur Anthropologist story. The band is not riding his coattails. New songs, new bassist, old songs sang by original members. Not a big deal at all.
ReplyDeleteJust because he's the 3rd bassist doesn't mean he isn't responsible for a majority of the songs. If the old songs were sang by original members, the 3rd bassist would be singing them. I call shenanigans.
ReplyDeleteIf you have a problem, Paul, be man enough to come discuss it in person.
ReplyDeleteactually this isnt paul. this is matt puz. do your homework before you guess wrong.
ReplyDeletesaw these hotties perform at a loft party, they're so fun!
ReplyDelete