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We fell in love with LA based Criminal Hygiene the moment we heard them. It’s garage punk rock at it’s very best — plenty of dirt with just a little strange thrown in. We were so infatuated with their two singles, the rollicking “Black Water” (complete with perhaps the catchiest backing vocals of the year) and “Rearrange Me”, that we asked James, Sean and Michael to make us a mix of songs they were influenced by when making their debut LP.
GBV – “Over the Neptune/Mesh Gear Fox”
The Wild Honey Pie: One of the things I love most about Guided By Voices is the surrealism and humor that Pollard infuses into the songs. Are you interested in that strange lyrical content as well, or more the lo-fi sound?
Michael: The thing I love about GBV, specifically that song, is Pollards ability to fuse genres together. He starts the song as a 2 minute grunge tune, with brilliant lyrics, and then the song moves to an epic, almost Pink Floyd finish. The “lo-fi” sound doesn’t mean much to me because the performance is so great. They probably recorded it “lo-fi” because thats what they could afford to do, same as us.
Replacements – “Sixteen Blue”
The Wild Honey Pie: I can’t say I was surprised by The Replacements on your list, you definitely have that same sort of feel. I was surprised that you went with one of the more mellow, introspective songs rather than the more raucous style. Can you elaborate on your pick?
Michael: I love Westerbergs ability as a writer to create something raucous, and then come back on the next song and do something like “Sixteen Blue”. The Replacements were one of the those genreless, imageless bands, and thats something we aspire to. Replacements broke a lot of boundaries and paved the way for bands like us, and only got a lot of credit for it after the fact. “Sixteen Blue” is a beautiful, teenage nostalgia song, and I’m into that kind of thing. It follows “Gary’s Got a Boner”. Amazing.
Stone Roses – “I Am the Resurrection”
Michael: I am the resurrection is the last song on one of the greatest LP’s of all time in my opinion. This song happens to be the greatest “fuck you” song ever. How can a song be so uplifting and catchy, but so bitter and vicious underneath all the while? Brilliant. Try to respond after someone says to you “You’re a no one nowhere washed up baby who’d look better dead.” But try not to hum it to yourself later. Definitely a huge influence.
Dead Kennedys – “Too Drunk to Fuck”
The Wild Honey Pie: How attracted are you to the political output of a band like Dead Kennedys, if at all?
Sean: I like that Jello Biafra changed his name to support a cause, and that he’s an involved political figure in music. This song isn’t political, and I mainly just like the fun-natured punk aspect of it. That guitar riff…man. The lyrics hit home sometimes too.
Retox- 30 Cents Shy of a Quarter
Sean: I was really influenced by the drummer Brian when i saw them live. He was the best drummer I’d ever seen and the band is so tight. They are one of the best hardcore bands around right now. Their energy and raw power are something I’m drawn to.
Murder City Devils – “Dance Hall Music”
Sean: This is a Seattle band, and it gives me that Northwest feeling when i’m away from there. The whole album has been an influence for me since I was younger. This stuff kicks ass.
The Shins – “Fighting in a Sack”
The Wild Honey Pie: I have a theory that kids in their early 2000s were all influenced by The Shins because it was the first real “indie” band we knew about. How true is this for you?
James: Pretty true. James Mercer was a skinny white dude and his music resonated with skinny white kids that saw Garden State. It was the grunge movement all over again — but different, more intellectual with the same angsty backbone. It was more minimal, perhaps less in your face with more room for interpretation, it was perfect timing. Not to mention his melodies and lyrics made for I think the most amazing, clear, poignant prosody since The Beatles. So for me The Shins are a continual inspiration… as I continue to educate myself (I’m pursuing a masters degree in anthropology) his lyrics mean different things to me, I understand them more and read them differently…. And as I continue to be a white skinny dude (perpetually) his angst makes continues to make sense to me.
