I know San Francisco’s The Parties from two LPs and two EPs released between 2007 and 2010. There might be more releases out there but the band’s Bandcamp page is limited to this quartet. But what a formidable foursome they represent. There is a jocular rock and roll confidence to their performative stance, ably sustained by a generous load of jangle and a delightfully youthful demeanor. For this post I invite you to enjoy The Parties, featuring one signature tune from each release. Just enough to whet your appetite and get you primed for more.

It seems fitting to kick things off with the title track “The Parties” from 2007’s The Parties EP. There’s a strong late-1980s jangle-drone here I associate with The Primitives or The Church. While the rest of the album has a rough, almost punky elan, this single is a smooth sensorium of this kind of sound. On 2008’s Can’t Come Down “Cold Life” has a sunshine jangle feel that reminds me of the Cyrkle in their Neon period. Then the title track “Cryin’ Shame” from 2009’s Cryin’ Shame EP expands the sonic palate again, this time adding a Rank and File/Grapes of Wrath rocking folky feel, with jangle of course. By the time we get to 2010’s Coast Garde things have gotten much grander. “Suite: Feet Back On the Ground / I’m Sorry / Going Away Girl” is a seven-minute epic that breezes by, enveloping you in its magisterial Byrdsian charms only to segue to something more jangle pop in the end.

You wanna party? Check out all the other cuts populating their EPs and LPs at their Bandcamp site here. It won’t be an early night if you do.

Photo courtesy James Vaughn Flikr page.