NOTS - We Are Nots

NOTS - We Are Nots

Four angry young Memphis women who don’t give a damn what you think are here to kick over your stuff, and you’re gonna love it.

In their third year playing together, Nots have smashed out their first LP, and it’s all over in a blistering 27 minutes. Loaded with phrases guaranteed to become the shouted mantras of their fans, it’s a fun blast of punk from a band whose apathetic delivery belies their fury. Nots have clearly settled into their niche, though, and this does make many of the songs sound a little too similar. Vocalist Natalie Hoffman’s harangue, especially, is iconic but strays towards monotony as the last chords of ‘Talk Show’ fade.

What separates Nots from their peers is the perfect placement of Alexandra Eastburn’s synthesizers, conjuring up both a vibrant nostalgia for the riot grrrl era and a weird Memphis grooviness that keeps them sounding fresh. Danceability is We Are Nots’ greatest asset. It’s never better than in the riotous, 46-second-long ‘Get Along’, a punchy burst of wailing guitar, unrelenting bass and warbling synth.

Effortlessly cool and gutsy as hell, the record is a sign of musicians who, given time to shake out of their malaise, will kick every arse before them. Spin it and get mad.

★★★½

We Are Nots by Nots is out now on Heavenly Recordings.

Post originally printed in The BRAG, available at http://www.thebrag.com/music/nots-we-are-nots