DAILY FIX: Tungs, "Young Daze"

Posted by: Necci – Sep 12, 2011

Richmond's favorite trio of psychedelic punk noisemakers, Tungs, have a brand new album out called Poplicker. It's available as a free download from Tungs's bandcamp site, though those who, like me, prefer an actual physical copy of the albums they own will be glad to know that it's also been released as a cassette, which is available through local label Bad Grrrl Records for the low low price of $4. If the above video for "Young Daze," the first single from Poplicker, is any indication, the album should appeal to any listeners who like their music daring, unconventional, and noisy, but with a pop-oriented heart that can't be drowned out. In addition to the Krautrock/shoegaze/noisecore ethos that dominates Tungs's live show, the recorded versions of their newest material feature excellent pop hooks that can't be drowned out even when the vocals are distorted to the point of incomprehensibility. The video for "Young Daze" is, if anything, equally incomprehensible, featuring triple and quadruple video exposures in which multiple mouths sneer and drool at the viewer in bizarre, unnatural color schemes. Poplicker, indeed. Something tells me that a fair amount of hallucinogenics went into the production of both the video and the music itself, but their astral travels benefit us all when they yield such bizarrely awesome tuneage. Check it out.

By Andrew Necci