The Garden – Haha (via Epitaph/Burger Records)

West Coast neo-punk twins, moonlighting models and provocateurs The Garden release their new album ‘Haha’ via Epitaph/Burger Records on October 9. This is the duo’s follow up to their debut album ‘The Life’ and Times of a Paperclip’.

The Garden are a fair representation of the California DIY scene, they also look the part with their “thrift store-cum-glam fashion style” plus assorted musical influences “that stretch far beyond The Minutemen.” The Garden aka Wyatt and Fletcher Shears seem happy to graze borderless musical pastures.

The 16-track, 35 minute album opens strongly with ‘All Smiles Over Here’ followed in short succession by ‘Jester’s Tear’ their blend fused as much by electro as rock and roll, but like Slaves, it is pinned down by the narrative and creative expression, unlike Slaves in terms of energy and power levels, they seem deft creating multiple soundscapes complete with earnest vocal orchestrations. ’I’ll Stop By Tomorrow Night’ and title track ‘HaHa’  go well as does ‘Vexation’, ‘We Be Grindin’ and ’Devour’ short if not all together sweet offerings, not to be dismissed as overgrown ditties.

It’s a skill to make a band like They Might Be Giants’ Dial-a-Song singles sound over-complicated, but the duo’s music is appealing all the same, like they ever lose sleep what anyone thinks, The Garden continue on a creative path in a modern world, pop for the people? 7.7/10

Steve Janes