Because I “run” this site in my spare time, I check band submissions irregularly at best. So for all the bands that have e-mailed me demos and such, I owe you one big apologize. However, every now and then I take an afternoon to work through my inbox, finding a handful of gems that not only catch my attention but make me a newly converted fan. Case in point: Adam Anderson, LA’s one-man fuzz “band” that goes by the name of Rraaiillss.
It seems like Anderson has the same problem of regular upkeep as I do, as it takes a round-about route to find an mp3 of his (myspace -> website -> bandcamp), but for these tunes, it’s worth the extra effort to seek them out. Although fuzzed-out pop acts seem to be a dime-a-dozen nowadays, Rraaiillss’s tunes are easily the crème de la crème of the genre, mixing equal parts distortion and catchiness that are sure to please a variety of listeners. With each track, Anderson produces well-thought out and intelligent pieces, contrary to what one would expect from the moniker “lo-fi” (casually constructed / hastily recorded). Sure, the static and reverb are prevalent, but one feels that it’s more out of the necessity for inexpensive recording rather than trying to fit a particular style. Backing up this claim is the track “SPF85″ which is unabashedly an 80s pop song, reminiscent of The Cure’s “I’ll Stop the World and Melt With You”, with no modern frills attached. Ultimately, with or without the fuzz Anderson is making some of the best music I’ve heard in a while!
You can download four of Rraaiillss’s demos from his bandcamp page or if you want just a sample, check out the two tracks below:
