On their debut, the Lesson In Crime EP, Canadian young’ns Tokyo Police Clubproved their knack for quick and crowded numbers, punchy like a spikeddrink or an adrenaline shot, with a biting wit. “Box” finds Police Clubbassist and vocalist Dave Monks at the top of his game, slightinghimself for dubious means and hissing sprays of venom, interestinglyenough all pointed directly in the mirror.
Over rattlinghigh-hats the track’s tension boils between rapid distorted rhythms anda bright lead while Monks is brimming with self-hate. “I’m a fake whosticks to his guns,” he admits, “…but it comes easy for a scumbag likeme.” And like his gnawing conscience, buried back-ups shouts from thedistance, warning that when a box is wet, it bottoms out. But thatwon’t stop Monks, who confesses that he’s far more interested in gettingdown than hearing that his baby might feel down. Still, though thedevil on his one shoulder might be dominating the angel on the other,it makes for a rousing two-and-a-half minutes — a taste of theferociousness that the Club have to offer as their much anticipateddebut full-length on the Saddle Creek label approaches. Meanwhile, the Smith EP will be available Nov. 6 via the Paper Bag label.
Now Hear This:
Tokyo Police Club – “Box”
On the Web:
Tokyo Police Club at MySpace
tokyopoliceclub.com
Talk: Are the contents of Tokyo Police Club’s ‘box’ a blast or a bust?
More on Tokyo Police Club:
Backstage at Lollapalooza 2007
