K Records is a perfect home for
Nucular Aminals, not only for its close location to the band’s home base in Portland, but also due to the fact that they sound readymade for the label. The band brings together garage rock, lo-fi, and indie pop on their self-titled debut, and like many of their labelmates, the band thrives on being in an organic environment. The album has a live feel and a simple, intimate approach that evokes a band performing in their rehearsal space. At times,
Nucular Aminals sounds like four-track demos by
Beulah or
the Shins. At other times, organ-driven songs like “Kitty Pity,” “Eat Me,” and “Gay & Gay” conjure up the ’60s pop of
? & the Mysterians. Vintage instruments like Erin Schmith’s Farfisa contribute heavily to this oldies-indebted sound, while the group’s slack style suggests ‘90s indie rock. Not a lot of ground is being broken in
Nucular Aminals’ overcast recording aesthetic or in the minor-key,
Nirvana-esque chord progressions, but, even so, the songwriting of their debut is good and the hooks are very hummable. ~ Jason Lymangrover