Retail Drugs Releases New Album 'rECKless dRIVing' via Angel Tapes !
Retail Drugs is the NYC-based project of musician Jake Brooks. Earlier this summer, Retail Drugs announced their signing to Fire Talk Records’ emerging artists imprint Angel Tapes — home to the likes of shower curtain, Jawdropped, Sleeper’s Bell and more — and revealed news of their new album, rECKless dRIVing, out this Friday August 1st. Today, Retail Drugs presents rECKless dRIVing’s final advance single and opening track, “little dog,” as well as an accompanying music video. Charmingly lo-fi and recorded straight to tape in Brooks’ NYC apartment, “little dog” unveils one of the sweetest melodies across Retail Drugs’ burgeoning discography. “The hardest part is already behind, I’m done,” Brooks croons through fuzzy layers of percussion and acoustic guitar, before his smile turns into a scowl. Vocals harmonies stack and rECKless dRIVing begins to shift gears with a brutal declaration: “you’re fucking up my scene.”
More than the sum of its parts, rECKless dRIVing is a fully-formed collection that teases out buried themes, and establishes Brooks as a tape-recording tour-de-force. rECKless dRIVing picks up where Brooks left off, gesturing toward digital and electronic impulses yet to be explored in Retail Drugs’ soon-to-be prolific discography. To celebrate its release, Retail Drugs will perform an album release show at Trans Pecos this Saturday, August 2nd. Rounding out the bill are smush, warmachine, dogpisser, and a DJ set ICKY!, the moniker of labelmate Victoria Winters (shower curtain). Tickets are on sale now and available to purchase here.
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Emerging from New York City’s thriving scene of twenty-something rockers, Retail Drugs funnels Brooks’ early adulthood experiences through layers of fuzz, distortion, and guitars that land somewhere between grunge and noise. rECKless dRIVing picks up where Brooks left off, gesturing toward digital and electronic impulses yet to be explored in Retail Drugs’ burgeoning discography, and zeroing in on the emotional well from which i love you so ! pulled. rECKless dRIVing and its predecessor bring a decidedly lo-fi POV, and present some of Retail Drugs’ most immediate and heartfelt songs-to-date.
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Last year, Brooks quietly released his debut album, i love you so !, which established his presence as NYC’s premier home-tape recording entity. Brooks followed the release with countless live performances around the city’s venues, bars, and DIY operations, gaining a reputation for provocative gigs that blur the line between rock show and performance art. Newly signed to Fire Talk’s emerging artists imprint, Angel Tapes, Retail Drugs presents a new run of cassette tapes.
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