Thee MVPs - Science Fiction
Thee MVPs, from Leeds, make unashamedly joyous garage rock, and after seemingly gigging their way around the globe, they have now unleashed their debut album on the world.
Opener Ship Episode, Planet Episode comes at the listener with pummelling drums, thumping bass, guitar solos and vocals that nod towards punk. Magnificent stuff!
The album continues in a similar vein for a few tracks, all great, but you start to wonder if it is going to be a bit of a one-dimensional debut album. Then things change gear on HAL……
Suddenly we are at half speed, the mood has dipped, and the band are reflecting on social media through the medium of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Scrub that fear of a one-dimensional album.
SESH oddly reminds me of Blue Album era Weezer musically, albeit with the fuzz turned up to 11, whilst Super Contactable combines possibly the most melodic elements of the album with the heaviest in alternating parts.
Perhaps unsurprisingly for an album called Science Fiction, the Sci Fi references are littered throughout, A Pining Replicant taking us back to the more straightforward garage rock of the start of the album.
The album closes with US Airways (Final Flight), a seven-minute wig out with the band fully locked into the groove, and it is one of those tracks that you know will be great fun live.
The band have supported the likes of Ty Segall, Meatbodies, Flat Worms and Night Beats and those bands are a good reference point if you’re wondering what Thee MVPs might sound like. This is a hugely recommended album, if you like fuzzed up guitars and driving beats then you will love this.
8/10
