The Phantom Tollbooth
May 1999 Pick of the Month
 
Yreka Bakery 
Artist: Pep Squad 
Label: Tooth and Nail Records (1999) 
Length: 41:16 / 12 songs 
 
 

Give me a P! Give me an E! Give me another P! Give me a S - Q - U - A - D! What does it spell?  PEP SQUAD! Go Pep Squad, go! If the band name Pep Squad mentally conjures a group of alterna-pop cheerleaders, you would be close. If you envision a gaggle of cutesy, short skirt-wearing, guitar-playing, tumbling teenagers, however, the analogy has gone too far (although the band has been known to feature real cheerleaders in their live shows). Instead, imagine taking your standard nineties modern rock band and adding some nice sonic frills, lots of pop smarts, and plenty of smile-inducing antics. They correctly describe their sound as "the Pixies-meet-Weezer." Coincidently, they have the same sex line-up as the Pixies, with three guys and one gal, but the comparisons don't end there. A number of these songs, and the first track "Wild Dogs" in particular, feature many Pixieish touches, right on down to the nearly Black Francis/Frank Black squealing vocals. Despite these moments that skirt too close to mimicry, their overall sound also recalls a happier Stone Temple Pilots, a less gritty Common Children, and a host of other fuzzy guitar playing bands.

The band has a reputation for not taking themselves too seriously. If you like satire, their sly sense of humor is amply evident, yet more smile cracking than Terry Taylor-esque guffawing. Even their palindrome album title, Yreka Bakery, and surreal song lyrics reflect that spirit.  "The Fabulous Moolah" celebrates an actual grandma who wrestles in the WWF, and "Erik's (got a) Girlfriend," describes a young man's peculiar infatuation with Barbie dolls. Just the sort of thing you might expect from the Pixies, but with one very significant difference. Whereas that other band wrote seemingly giddy songs from a postmodern, fragmented and often slightly sinister perspective, Pep Squad borrows some of the postmodern vibes and places them in a hopeful, Christian-world-view setting. The result is a load of playful fun with a few seriously inspirational moments. "On that Day," for example, features Biblically-inspired lyrics with an ultimately uplifting, hopeful message:

Interestingly, Yreka Bakery's most obviously Christian moment seems out of place among the other more snide and enigmatic songs which serve the band's style better. In fact, the album's most enjoyable songs feature far less straight-forward lyrical content, and one album highlight "Black and  Blue" has none at all, unless you count "ah's and oh's." The lyrics to "A Beat" are simply, "Time's slowly groovin' my feet. It's a beat." The simplicity of such non-statements coupled with cheerful, well-played music are a satisfying hit.

Among the album's two biggest highlights, one comes in the form of a curious cover. The members of Pep Squad were barely out of diapers when Adam Ant released "Friend or Foe" back in 1982. This grunged-out version is grittier,  but remains true to the original with its jaunty feeling and trumpet trills courtesy of Mike Maffe. The second high point is an original entitled "The Floor," which is a fabulously funky disco number mixing Donna Summer's style with Le Chic and touches of Prince's Controversy-era vibes. Although purported to have a pro-abstinence message, the lyrics are too ambiguous to persuasively make the point, which is a symptom of the entire album's avoidance of substantial lyrical content. Regardless, both "Friend or Foe" and "The Floor" serve as bonafide booty-shaking fun.

To be sure, the disco-master himself, Gene Eugene of Adam Again, had a hand in this album's success. Not only part of the production team with Chris Colbert, Eugene is also credited with keyboard bits and guitar tricks. It shows. How much credit he deserves is uncertain, but it appears he had a good time stretching the band into some zany, crowd-pleasing territory.  Additionally there are plenty of nice photos of the band and a (perhaps fictional) bakery that proved to be an inspiration for the silly album title.

Marking their third release to date, and with plenty of help from their friends and input from fans, Pep Squad is improving with their every new adventure. In contrast to many modern rock bands today that make you feel distraught or overly angry at the world, Yreka Bakery actually makes you smile. They not only live up to their name, this album will leave you refreshed and energized just like, well, cheerleaders.

Steven S. Baldwin (4/19/99)


 

Pep Squad must not like to write lyrics. Of the twelve songs on their latest album, Yreka Bakery, one is a cover, one is taken directly from Scripture, and one has no words. The remaining nine tracks are all ultra-simplistic, lyrically, as the song "Wild Pack" shows:

This is the song in its entirety. It's actually just as well that there aren't many lyrics, because lead singer Bryan Everett has a rough, hoarse voice that can be quite abrasive and unattractive at times. The music matches him most of the time: rough, unpolished alternapop with a punk edge.

Yreka Bakery is a puzzle. By all rules of logic, I should not like this album. It has everything that I'd consider unattractive for a band: sloppy production, unattractive vocals, and lyrics that are barely present, much less philosophical. But there's an indescribable coolness factor circulating throughout the album. Pep Squad apparently graduated from the Jason Martin school of songwriting.  They write catchy pop songs that are ultra-simplistic, easy to play, but undeniably cool.

Michial Farmer (6/13/99)


 

Pep Squad has moved to Tooth and Nail for their new release, Yreka Bakery, bringing all of their energy and hooky creativity with them. This record is a leap forward in style and musical maturity from the debut on BEC, No Doy. Now a four piece band, with Bradley Swanson on bass and Evan Railton on drums, led by Bryan Everett and his sister, Kim on guitars, the Squad rings full, and sometimes, even big. With a little help from producers Gene Eugene and Chris Colbert, Pep Squad sounds great.
 
The disc starts out a little slow for me with the distorted rumble of "Wild Pack" and the pop-alternative sound of "Freak Show," but then the record takes a dramatic step up starting with the cover of Adam Ant's "Friend or Foe." The Squad does a fine job reproducing the sound and coolness of the original with a slightly updated attitude. The rest of the CD is very sweet, smooth, and sonic. Musical styles range from acoustic alternative to ragged punk-pop, with a mix of all things in between, plus disco.

The lyrics are good, although they are not the focus of the band. I do enjoy the thoughts of God's help in these songs such as: his love shown in answering prayer ("It's a No"), his attributes ("Birds and Fleas"), and the rewards for his own who run in, and finish, the race ("On that Day").

There are also songs about common situations that strike a cord of harmony among us, and then, of course, songs that are just plain fun. The number five song, "The Fabulous Moola," hits me both of those ways. I remember seeing The Fabulous Moola wrestle on TV and in person in the early and mid 80's. An old woman even then, she is still around and teaching pro wrestling. The Adam Ant song takes me back, and "The Floor" puts me back on a '70's disco dance floor in stacked shoes. It's funny how a new record, from a young band, can bring back memories from long ago. However, Yreka Bakery is not really a CD for your parents. It is as new and up to date as the Jetsons, or stacked shoes, for that matter. It rocks with good old, timeless creativity.
 
 Tony LaFianza (6/17/99)