Minutes, the debut release from Sacramento-based trio Fitting, accomplishes something many other releases in the indie rock canon fail to do; presenting a refined, unique sound that hits the listener instantly, anchored by solid songwriting and a distinct awareness of its own idiosyncratic personality throughout.
The sound is a gripping pastiche of all the best aspects of angular post-punk and melodic indie rock. All throughout the album are guitarist/vocalist Phil Barkel’s ornate arpeggiations, which dance around the rhythms and chord changes outlined by the band’s steady rhythm section of Eli Wengrin on bass and Greta Soos on drums. This style is frequently contrasted by other sections with chunky guitar chords, pounding drums, and shouted vocals. The dynamic between these two forms one of the most engaging motifs of the EP.
The combination of these two aspects gives the entirety of the Minutes EP a kind of dynamism that is singularly captivating. The lead single “Prepped Header,” in addition to the closing track “Freebie of 1989,” are lush with entrancing guitar melodies and vocals that turn into cathartic blasts of noise and back again. “Craft Services,” one of the EP’s most striking tracks, finds Fitting employing dynamism in the extreme. Just as one dreamy groove seems to be established, the band turns on a dime to a frenetic build-up, all the while never losing any sense of cohesion. Finally, the listener is drawn into its transfixing finale; “Forget myself,” Barkel exclaims, “make believe I’m someone else”.
Ultimately, Minutes is notable not just for the musical dynamism it shows, but also for how it uses that tool in tandem with its lyrical expression to craft truly memorable songs. The tone of the music and lyrics runs the gamut of human emotion, as all good art does. Fitting touches on feelings of angst, confusion, and insecurity, but also basks in their own bombast and irreverence, all while not strictly aligning with any one of these states. With Minutes, Fitting presents an artistic vision so fully realized that it not only stands on its own merit but heralds greater things to come.
credits
released October 7, 2022
Recorded By Jesse Nichols at Atomic Garden in Oakland, CA
Guitar/Vocals - Phil
Bass/Vocals - Eli
Drums/Vocals - Greta bandfitting@gmail.com
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