Sunshine Frisbee Laserbeam: Blackout Cowboy (By the Time It Gets Dark) Review

Sunshine Frisbee Laserbeam

Blackout Cowboy

By the Time It Gets Dark

Nov 01, 2018 Web Exclusive By Michael James Hall

Birmingham-based and ludicrously named, Sunshine Frisbee Laserbeam are a prolific bunch indeed. With over 100 songs posted online in the last couple of years, they’ve plenty to choose from when it comes to their debut album proper.

They’ve chosen well, with eight college rock anthems that tear out of the gates and relentlessly deliver high wire melodies, black humor, self-effacement, and fuzz-buzz guitar in a wonderfully Weezer-shaped package.

The Mclusky riffola of the title track crashes up against the brief, pop-fuelled elation of “Adult Memory Oww” and we’re briefly thrown back to a time in the ‘90s when alt-rock seemed like a fun and enjoyable proposition in the UK.

There are moments of lyrical observation here, though, that contrast with the Urusei Yatsura-like high energy DIY rock, such as “It’s fine, I’m fine/Bros don’t talk about anything” on the mighty “All the Way Over the Edge” and, nakedly, “I’m totally lost, I’m totally out of it” on the frantic “Mrs J.R Hartley.” The contrast works to impressive effect.

Chiming and bright, indie as fuck, and with outros that should fill mosh pits with smiling kids, this is a grab-bag of summer shimmer perfect for brightening the coming cold nights of winter. (www.sunshinefrisbeelaserbeam.bandcamp.com)

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