Chicago band She Rides Tigers is a bit hard to define, and they like it that way. Take a few parts shoegaze and psychedelic pop all set in a foundation of punk and rock and roll, and you get a gritty and authentic sound that is uniquely theirs. Comprised of Joe O’Leary on lead vocals and guitar, James Scott on bass and vocals, and Ryan Birkett on drums/percussion, She Rides Tigers frequents the local Chicago music scene as well the surrounding areas. You may have heard their songs on Radio One Chicago or WGN, or even caught a glimpse of their song “Roll With It” from their first EP, Standing on the Edge, in the production “The Grand Concourse” at the Steppenwolf Theater. Their latest album, Scars, released in April, is full of lyrical exploration of growing from the past, set in a grungy musical landscape of fuzzy guitar and raw vocals.
The album starts with “Scars of Allegory,” which helps set the tone of reflection with a classic sounding intro that captures the youth of punk and rock and roll before fading into a deliciously addictive hook. O’Leary’s vocals are a blend of the quiet pensiveness of Ben Gibbard of Deathcab for Cutie and the grainy abandon of Neil Young, with an obvious punk-rock origin story.
The sound gets more headbang-worthy in the next track “Perfect Crime,” where the vocals sound a tad more polished while still keeping their grit. The lighthearted harmonies of the chorus take the edge off the hardcore instrumentals perfectly, giving it a great balance of rock and poppy fun. That fun vocal arrangement continues with “Take a Bow,” which has all the dramatics of shoegaze with a darker undertone.
The jazzy bass lines of “Heart Worth Breaking” were an unexpected treat, making it one of the standouts of the album, while “Out of My Mind” was a nice mid-album slow down that drudged up images of dark eyeliner and leather jackets and post-punk vibes. That punk undertone was more prominent in “Something to Believe In,” where O’Leary’s vocal struck the perfect chord between old-school and new-school punk rock, among the familiar favorites- simple chords, groovy bass lines, and perfect drums. “No Way Out” has a very similar vibe and hits the garage band tone seamlessly.
They saved the best for last with “Should’ve Known Better.” If this track doesn’t remind you of a Neil Young song, then you’ve never heard a Neil Young song. It takes all the best elements of raw, honest yet cryptic lyrics, bristly guitar, dirty bass lines, and accents it with a catchy chorus that you have no shame singing along to. It’s the perfect ending to a fun, nostalgic album that makes you remember what you loved about all the bands you used to follow around in your youth.
Scars is a rocking album that was put together by a group of talented guys that obviously love playing music together and pour their souls into their work. Give it a listen if you need a little pick me up. And pick up a limited vinyl copy of Scars from Little Cloud Records. Only 100 copies available, so get them while they last!
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