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Post Stardom Depression- Ordinary Miracles (Control Group)

Seattle scorchers Post Stardom Depression almost sailed past my radar completely because on first glance, “Ordinary Miracles” looks like one of those post-everything, too-cool-for-school indie rock records, and their hype sheets foolishly tosses around kiss of death terms like ‘funky’ and ‘soulful’, which usually translates to tepid suburban Chile Peppers clones. But the other day I walked into the office to find the wife rocking out to some sexy Cult-meets-Urge Overkill kinda stadium rock, and goddamned I was to find out it was Post Stardom Depression. Apparently, these cats were on the fast track to major label success, which makes perfect sense, really, but then got dropped back down to the minors, which is pretty much how it always plays out these days. Everybody hates you when you love rock and roll, after all. Just ask Josh Todd. However, they must still be big business in some circles, cuz it took no less than three labels (Control Group, White Rabbit, King Bee) to release this impressive slab of whip-smart Super Rock. PSD have a decidedly sleazy slink to their sound, which is not easy to pull off when you’re bludgeoning ears with mountainous riffs, but they somehow manage to keep a groin-level groove going throughout “Ordinary Miracles” Fellow Seattle arena rockers Comes With the Fall are close cousins musically, but I don’t think CWTF get laid nearly as much as these guys. Most songs seem to contain some variation of “Lemme introduce you the whore that I am”, and even the Roadsaw-esque “When it Comes to Cars” sounds like a fuck anthem, even though it’s (obviously) about cars. Lead singer Jeff Angell has a slippery, creepy-cool delivery that sounds alternately like Nash Kato doing his best Ian Astbury or vice versa, and the band sounds like a Seattle supergroup littered with Soundgarden and Makers members. And hell, maybe it is. I hear the bloodlines get pretty muddy in that town. All I know is that this is big, big rock and roll with production to match (Sub Pop starmaker Jack Endino was on hand for the proceedings, natch), and I can almost guarantee it’ll rock your fool head off. Unless you’re a pussy, of course. Seattle might be known more for cowpunk than supergrunge these days, but there’s still a few arena shakers prowling around the perimeter, and Post Stardom Depression are certainly one of the best. Highly recommended.