Come on people, here’s a humble band with more witheringly smart commentary than your local late-night talk-show comic and they’re just looking for a way to turn that jangle-infused verbiage into a buck. That’s right, alternative universe superstars Luxury Fruit have another 4-tune EP that is so good they didn’t even bother to give it a title. [untitled] is a deliberately opaque album name because this is a band that believes in you, in your ability to listen and really hear what is going on. Opening cut “Entitled” is a brilliant dissection of privilege delivered with an island sway. Get Mike from White Lotus on the phone because this is his next theme tune. By contrast, “Untitled” is a stark rock rumination on the great levellers, time and death and indifference. Dig this meditative wall of sound. “Lying in Bed” is a talk-sing bit of whimsy delivered with a laconic precision. Rounding things out, “I’m All I Need” is the logical end game for America’s self-help obsession. Advice or warning? You decide. And then this EP is over. You won’t get a more refreshing 16 minutes unless you pop in a cold shower.
You probably didn’t think you could afford Luxury Fruit. But you can. And in multiple ways. Everything will become clearer over at the Luxury Fruit Bandcamp stand. Go there now.
Sometimes you really don’t know what you’re missing until you stumble across it. Like Luxury Fruit. I mean, what is such a thing? Just pieces of fruit in really nice condition? Or a cheeky musical outfit offering hours of fun for the discerning listener? I’ve just discovered the latter and their recent EP In Case You Didn’t Feel Like Selling Out and I’m still recovering from how funny and smart the songs are. “Liked You Better” kicks things off lowkey, like some off-Broadway exposition song, before breaking into a gorgeous chorus. Then “Cowards” sounds 1970s California pop smooth with just a bit of edge. “Tekken Liberties” appears to combine Japanese fighting games and pretty raunchy sex. And to wrap things up the band offers up “Space Bees,” a mini-rock opera about bees, complete with performance instructions contained in the Bandcamp lyrics drop-down toggle. There’s something really 10cc-meets-Todd Rundgren’s Utopia going on here. My only complaint is the brevity of the whole enterprise, barely filling their allotted 15 minutes of fame.
But this is where things get good because Luxury Fruit are not some indie rock slackers serving up an EP and a lame live album in alternating years. Over the past twelve months they’ve served up three EPs. That’s right, for the low, low price of just $12 US you get a whole year’s supply of Luxury Fruit. And I can attest that level of productivity comes at no cost in creative quality. EP #2 Neo Rococco is full of slightly twisted poppy delights. “Please Mr. Deputy” is like a country add to the A Mighty Wind soundtrack. “discofugazi” pop course corrects, with this EP’s sex content. “Cynical Man” is carried by a notable George Harrison lead guitar quaver. The EP ends with “No Alibis,” a finely structured pop masterpiece.
This brings us to the band’s first installment in this year-long trilogy of EPs, Being Calm is Fun. I don’t want to appear to play favourites with the children but this one is my fave. “Jesus Christ or Spider Man” is both pop song and pop culture genius. And it sounds like it could easily slip into the 1960s cartoon soundtrack. ‘Spider Christ amen’ indeed. Then “Grifters on the Grind” kicks off with an uber cool guitar riff before scaling up in the chorus with some amazing vocals. The message is pretty on-point timely too. “My Deadly Gender Reveal” vibes some ethereal Moody Blues before launching a Blue Oyster Cult rocking interlude. “You Know Like You Do” is a big-finish pop wonder of a tune.
Luxury Fruit combine pop culture smarts with winning hooks that falls somewhere between XTC and They Might Be Giants. So don’t delay, get stocked on up your one-year supply right now. And when that runs out, you can check out their cheeky earlier outfit, Westside Daredevils! Psst, don’t forget to explore the lyrics tabs on Bandcamp for some hilarious hidden commentary.
