Is Pet Lions single release, Shadows, growing into the Beach Boy’s Smile?
Recently, a HardTimes staff writer talked with Karl Otsby about the status of their supposed forthcoming single. No real word, but here’s a piece we wrote in honor of it’s pending release.
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On their new single, Shadows, Pet Lions retain the qualities that made them Chicago’s rock’n’roll darlings while stretching towards a dirtier, low fi, atmospheric sound that suits the band nicely. The early rock’n’roll charm, attention to melody, casio tones, and expert songwriting are still present, though often end up melting in a fuzzy, skuzzy burst of AM pop. The title track opens with roaring guitars that quickly capsize into a haunting groove carrying throughout the well crafted tune. Using their trademark guitar interplay – this time with the help of nylon strings and a toy xylophone – Pet Lions flirts towards 80’s slick but ends up landing somewhere between post-punk and 60’s girl group attitude.
It’s a patient, intelligent move for Pet Lions to release a single at this point in their story; a move that – just like everything else these guys do - nods towards classic pop and rock’n’roll traditions. And this mindset can’t be more apparent than in the single’s b-side “I Should Have Known Better.” A long time live staple for Pet Lions, the cover plays like a mission statement for the band: rock’n’roll is still relevant.
