From Beercan Records:

Sass Dragons / Party Garbage - Snacking is for Sissies Split 7" - (Let’s Pretend Records) - This slab reminds me of a 7" that I searched hither and yon for years ago.  That 7" was also a split but featured the Motards and the Cryin’ Out Louds.  Now, in this metaphorical comparison, the Sass Dragons are the Motards in that I already know of them and have pretty much never been let down by anything they’ve churned out.  On the other hand (or side, if you will) I’d never heard of the Cryin’ Out Louds and I’ve never heard of Party Garbage, but you know what?  Both bands very much hold their own on each respective record.  And then, I learn that Party Garbage is from Texas just as the Cryin’ Out Louds were which is all the more amazing considering that Let’s Pretend has historically dealt with only Midwestern bands!  Craaaaaaaazy man. Crazy.  The comparisons don’t end there though.  Party Garbage slings a similar type of lo-fi, pleasantly sloppy punk mess that comes best served from warm, humid climates like TX.  So, fuck yeah Party Garbage...nice to meet you.

As for the Sass Dragons side, it’s more of the same melodic, smart-assed awesomeness that an afficionado like you has come to expect.  "The Fifth" is undoubtedly the greatest song in the great and illustrious history of songs about the number 5.  "Count to Three" doesn’t seem to be about the number 3 but rather about insulting some fucker with barbs such as, "[You’re] dumb and retarded and your hair is parted".  That’s genius.

I like "Acid" too, but I really hope it’s not about dosing somebody.  The only time that that practice would have even been remotely acceptable, and even this is a big "maybe" was when Grace Slick tried to dose Richard Nixon.

Some say that, in this age of any bunch of douches being able to set up a myspace page and make their own CD-R, a vinyl record is needed to "legitimize" a band. And so Party Garbage now goes legit in conjunction with Super Secret. All five of the songs on this record were culled from the band's CD-R. But they're cooler now because they're, uh, on vinyl. And being the king-pimp high roller mogul that he is, Richard secured for this release the two best Party Garbage songs: "Ain't It Black?" and "Cut the Kite String". Hearing them again, I can definitely say that I like all these songs just as much as I did way back in the faraway month of May. The other day I started playing the record and was like, "Hey! Finally a review I got right!" PG's brand of melodic punk rock is gritty and crude, yet tuneful, thoughtfully constructed, and full of heart. Very reminiscent of Flip Your Whig/New Day Rising era Husker Du, but not in a lame-o copyist sort of way, the music of Party Garbage is remarkably distinct for such a new band. Its roughness is no drawback but rather its greatest charm. The lyrics, written by singer Lew Houston and guitarist Drew Schlitz, are quite good. Read on paper, the band's songs are profound & challenging ruminations on the illusion of life and the individual's quest for spiritual fulfillment. Yet Lew spits out these words like they're rotten fruit covered in phlegm, nullifying any potential for an emo-ish appeal. So it's perfectly safe to introduce Party Garbage to the poetry-phobic people in your life. Just tell 'em the songs are about fornicating with diner waitresses and sniffing nail polish remover.

All in all, this is a great-looking package, with funny cover art and a cool little booklet containing lyrics, photos, and an enlightening tale of the band's origins. This isn't your standard crappy insert, kids. It's practically a zine! 100 copies of the record come on yellow wax, so be sure to ask for the colored vinyl if you order. It's purty.

Lord Rutledge
August 27, 2007