Stick Crickets runs a sonic four minute mile on Mini Mart Projectionist
The versatile slack-rocker returns with a potpourri of sounds on his brand new EP.
Stick Crickets is one of the true unsung heroes of modern furry music. From the early recordings of his sibling-band The Foresters, to the manic post-indie-art-punk of Connecticut underground darlings Them Airs, to his live work with furry geek rock favorites I’ve Made Too Much Pasta, he is one of the more prolific and underrated musicians of the entire scene. Stick Crickets’ newest EP Mini Mart Projectionist sees his first release under his solo project in nearly 5 years, and almost 7 since his debut album New Monastic Presence, a record that mixed quirky bedroom experiments with a raucous and disheveled indie rock sound all wrapped up with a genuine ear for melody. At 6 tracks and 21 minutes, the EP stands at just 7 minutes shorter than his debut, but still packs in just as much variety and melodicism.
Opening track “Naked Airwaves” is a song that I still find blowing me away everytime I hit play. The couple of times I’ve been able to hear this song live it has always stood out as a clear highlight, and I was not disappointed by its final recorded version. The wall of jangling guitar that opens it up, the bursts of angularness at the end of verses, the way the vocals sound just scratches a wonderful itch. On multiple occasions I have found myself humming those “wooh”s that appear in the final coda crescendo, or singing “watch out, approaching naked airways” to myself, a phrase which has a certain je ne sais quoi that tickles me.
Stick Crickets
The following song “(All I Want Is to Wear) My Head” is maybe the most impressively arranged one on the entire release. From the start-stop rhythm that begins it to the repeating outro melody, it blasts through a dozen or so distinct musical ideas in its 3 minute runtime. Those Stereolab-esque synths that appear in the 2nd verse are a nice touch. A special mention to its lyrics as well, which I can tie up neatly with the term “fursuit euphoria”, special thanks to Duster for that one.
“NYC 2015 (You Probably Tripped)”, is the biggest break in sound for the record, a piano-led ditty that brings to mind the works of Supertramp, though through a more unpolished, D-I-Y lens. Succeeding track “Same as Ever” is the most straightforward of the songs on display here, but still finds time to include little flourishes of keys and cymbal bells in the background that help to elevate it to a higher level.
“Newt/Namekuji” is a blend of electronic beats, looping vocal melodies, and indie rock instrumentation comes together into an extremely charming number which has me recalling the music of Emperor X. It's maximalist and polished but remains intimate and scrappy. The manner in which the vocals grow intensity at the end until it cuts out into that piano outro, it's a great moment that could've come out of Chad Matheny school of writing.
Stick Crickets
Final track “Ideal” is a clamorous shoegaze ripper, drowning you in a sea of hazy noise and roaring feedback that sounds like it could envelop you completely. Suddenly in its final minute, it cuts out and returns with these clean guitars and “ba ba ba” vocals that take on an almost choral quality. It’s a very catching and heavenly moment to lead us out on.
From indie rock to jangle, shoegaze to electronica, piano rock to punk, Stick Crickets once again proves to be one of the most versatile and fascinating musical projects in the entire furry fandom, reiterating himself as one of the most talented musicians active in our scene today. Mini Mart Projectionist is an incredible release that I’m sure I will find myself replaying for months to come, and that I hope shall stand as a high watermark in the history of not just furry music, but modern indie rock itself.
Mini Mart Projectionist is available now on Bandcamp.