Buzzy organs over slutty guitars isn't the new anything, so don't pretend
the Not is the now sound. But on their debut EP, the Ohio-based foursome freely cross the "we don't care" elements of vintage post-punk with the "we still don't care" ethos of modern-day Olympia indie rock, and get away with it straightaway, since their particular pickup line is a hooky mess of addictive keyboard leads, low-rent guitar parts, and basslines that make the pointy elbows shimmy. The shrill, melodramatic lurch of "Outta Control"'s verse downshifts into a straight-ahead, running-in-place chorus, while "I Guess So" makes it brittle, dropping two-note bombs of rock over artful stops and starts. There's even a well-timed backup yelp from one of those girls in the band. It's the changes that make us want to watch
Not work. Vocalist/guitarist Mike (we're "not" giving our last names -- get it?) bleats and whines affectedly through distorted microphones throughout, and Amy's keys never quit skidding giddily across drunk car-crash guitar. But the seven songs here have craft to go with their pose and cool noise. ~ Johnny Loftus