In Rotation: Pylons - Macro Eye Close Up

Pylons pairs dual vocals from combinations of Sam Fadness, Gretchen Hannum and Karen Mooney with garage pop riffs for some seriously catchy jams. Macro Eye Close Up, the Chicago band's second album, is a great match for fans of the Pixies, post punk and garage pop. The eight songs are mostly fast or mid-tempo and they never hit the three minute mark. These are tight songs that do what they need to do and move on. Between that and the natural variety present with vocals from three people, there are a lot of punches on this album. It is easy to just start it over when it hits the end.

My favorite moment comes on "Puzzles." The track opens with a minute long instumental lead up, followed by a cracking delivery of the line "You caught me right in the middle of it." The album reaches its pop zenith on "Nuclear Horizon." Every part of the song is sunny and open. "Giving Up" is the opposite end of Pylons' sound - the darker post punk vibe. Opener "Page Torn Down the Middle" also rides that post punk wave. "Lost Cause" is the most Pixies-ish song. "Queen of Wands" has a surprising turn midway through the song.

Pylons killed it at All Hands on Deck last October, a fest co-thrown by Change the Rotation along with our buddies at Don't Panic Records & Distro and Friskie Morris & Friends. What I'm saying is you should go see them live as soon as you get a chance. What better time than this Friday at Quenchers with So Pretty, Messenger Birds, Teenage Bigfoot and Rare Ms. Steak? More info on that show here. Macro Eye Close Up is out on cassette, CD and digital formats over at Pylons' Bandcamp page. Stream it below.