A few weeks ago I got a huge dose of under-the-radar talent when I was writing about the True Names compilation, a benefit for trangender youth, and while most of the contributors to the record were new to me, there were a few that I’d heard before. (T-T)b was right in the middle — their name was familiar but I couldn’t quite place it.
Beautiful Extension Cord is the Boston band’s new record, released April 4, and it plugs straight into the sound of early-2000s slacker rock infused with some chiptune sounds.1. It’s a modern take on Sophtware Slump-era Grandaddy—complete with fuzzed-out guitars, pixelated synths, and wistful melancholy.
“Julian,” opens the record on sparkling 8-bit textures and big guitar riffs. It’s followed by standouts “Hey, Creepshow” and “Bug on the Ceiling”, which showcase the band’s knack for blending chunky riffs with wistful, retro nostalgia, never letting the chiptune elements overwhelm the songcraft.
“Hey, Creepshow” in particular is a highlight, with plush, warm indie rock, a touch of pedal steel in the coda, and jubilant choruses featuring guest backup vocals from, little bit‘s Hannah Liuzzo, who was also featured here last fall. Turns out that’s why the band seemed familiar — I follow little bit on Instagram and she shared the track when it was released.
“Semantics of Yet” rises from a subdued intro to a soaring alt-rock chorus, while “Sugar in the Raw” delivers a sugar rush of NES synths and guitar shredding that recalls Siamese Dream, with guest vocals from Sadie Dupuis (aka indie legend Speedy Ortiz). Digital blips and laser sounds heighten the impact, playing with nostalgia and obsolescence without ever feeling like a gimmick.
Lyrically, Beautiful Extension Cord ventures into more nostalgic territory, with abstract ideas that still feel drawn from a wood-paneled basement rec room, full of anxiety and longing. There’s a lo-fi indie quality here that calls back to Guided by Voices and Dinosaur Jr., along with references to basement rock shows and The X-Files. Sometimes when Joey Dussault’s vocal hits the right way (as on the closing of “Allston Christmas”), he’s reminiscent of The Weakerthans’ John K. Samson or their successors Modern Baseball. It’s easy to listen to this record and imagine that it’s a classic but overlooked mid-00s indie record.
Beautiful Extension Cord is a charismatic and warm fusion of chiptune and DIY indie rock in the tradition. It’s memorable and reminiscent of the golden days of indie slacker rock.
