Indie Dance Party Fun

Let’s have an indie rock dance party! That’s what you’ll be saying after listening to Be Your Own Pet’s self titled debut album, Be Your Own Pet. In true punk fashion, the album has a live, raw sound. Most of the songs are under three minutes long, each one starting abruptly and lunging straight into distorted grungy guitar work, jazzy cymbal-laden drums, and funky bass lines.The band’s music often draws the obvious comparison to the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, mainly because Be Your Own Pet vocalist Jemina Abegg’s raucous yet cutesy singing style is reminiscent of Karen O. Though the bands do have a similar sound and could even be considered part of the same genre, Be Your Own Pet is definitely it’s own unique animal.

Be Your Own Pet opted for basically clean vocals on this album which gives songs like “Bunk Trunk Skunk” an immediate impact. “Bunk Trunk Skunk” starts with the distinctly shouted lyrics, “I’m an independent motherfucker” and goes into a raunchy punk riff and even more defiant lyrics from there. Fancy studio tricks are not Be Your Own Pet’s game; the music itself is organic, relying less on studio tricks and electronics emphasizing a trashy garage quality. There is, of course, some method to the madness. Songs like “Wildcat”, let the listener hear how bass player Nathan Vasquez keeps Be Your Own Pet’s natural chaos in check. The band’s funky foundation is especially evident on the song’s seconds-long bass intro for those quick enough to catch it.

With song titles like “Fill my Pill” and “Fuuuuuun,” Be Your Own Pet may not be punk rock pioneers, but they are definitely raunchy punky fuuuuun worth throwing on at a party.