Reverb-Heavy Desert Guitar
The tunes on The Purrs’ new album, Destroy the Sun, can only come from well-worn ears; therefore the twelve tracks can be a slippery outer surface to break into. One common thread, however, is a penchant for instrumental-focused guitar rock—polished and refined with the band’s collective experience—and often melancholic lyrics that conflict with the mostly pop-themed musical backings of the bulk of Sun’s tracklist.
Formed in 2000, The Purrs have seen enough lineup changes to create several satellite (or Seattleite, if you’re feeling punny) groups. One consistency in the group has been the central crux of lead singer, songwriter, and bassist Jima (pronounced “Jim-A”), alongside his longtime music collaborator, Jason Milne, on guitar. At once, their music is filled with reverb and a thumping rhythm section.
Upon first listen, The Purrs’ sound is remarkably enigmatic. The lead singer’s voice appears ostensibly British, yet the group’s place of origin is Seattle, WA. And sure, that native city’s grunge influence is apparent in the band’s sonic territory (along with all of the sensibilities of ’90s Britpop with heavier instrumentation), but the overall sound of The Purrs takes after so many influences it can be difficult to accurately describe the group. There’s the sound of desert expanse on “Late Night Disturbance,” U2 tints on “In An Unknown Field,” and a few nods to fellow hazy slow-burner professionals, The Brian Jonestown Massacre (check out “Now You Know”). Whether or not you take this slew of influences as a positive aspect to The Purrs’ sound, it simply translates to a toughness (from the band and for the listener) in their music.
Opening track, “Destroy the Sun” begins in haste and soon guitar effects are driving the song. For an album opener, “Destroy the Sun” is a scorcher, immediately setting the tone for the rest of the record with cascading guitars and one-dimensional lyrics. “Destroy the sun and my mood gets better/All those smiling people really bring me down/It’s not that I think darkness is better/It’s just that I always had a fear of clouds,” sings Jima before the song descends into pseudo-thrash rock. “American as Apple Pie” plays loose and sprawling, like a desert highway stretching ad infinitum. This track is more playful than its predecessor, with handclaps and harmonies punctuating the trademark guitar noise throughout. “Walking Out The Door” is a fast-paced thrasher, but blended with the cosmic guitar dialogue for which The Purrs are well known.
In the wake of the tracks that came before it, “Wave Tale” makes for a surprisingly pleasant listen complete with wind and ocean sounds, and what appears to be a Roman Candle. It’s at about five and a half minutes through this twelve-minute track that actual instruments come in, yet even these are shrouded in the trademark reverb. For fans of guitar effects, Destroy the Sun would presumably be right up your alley. For fans looking for a more pleasant listen, or thought-provoking lyrics, looking elsewhere is recommended.
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