Record of the Week: Gee Tee: S/T LP

Gee Tee: S/T 12” (Goodbye Boozy) Debut 12” from this Australian band who you may remember from previous 7”s on Neck Chop and Goodbye Boozy. It’s rare that Goodbye Boozy releases an LP, but I’m glad they upset their rhythm of short-run 7” releases for this record. I enjoyed the previous two Gee Tee records, but they really shine on this LP, as the longer format gives the different aspects of their sound room to breathe. Gee Tee have two basic modes: a scuzzy garage-punk mode with an Australia-by-way-of-Detroit vibe and a more melodic side with a stoned-at-the-beach vibe and big, memorable melodies that would be at home on an early Flying Nun release. The overall vibe reminds me of Jay Reatard’s final LP, but looser in execution and with near shit-fi level noisy production. One might say that this LP is a glimpse into an alternate universe where Watch Me Fall was recorded with the rawness of the mid-era Reatards records. Gee Tee’s songwriting warrants the comparison too as these twelve songs have more hooks than most bands can muster in their entire career. My favorites are the more laid-back numbers like “1970s Chicks” and “No Pressure,” but the wild, Eno-esque synth solo in “Exhaust Sniffa” is another highlight. I’ll admit that a lot of Goodbye Boozy releases hold little interest outside of die-hard garage turkey circles, but this LP deserves a wider audience. If you’re constantly searching for that perfect balance of hooks and rawness, pull out your scales and see how this one stacks up.