Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti : Before Today :: Review
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti’s semi-debut album “Before Today” is a curious album that feels like an existential romp through your grandmother’s mildew infested basement if she was obsessed with garage and lo-fi pop extravaganzas as well as the soft rock sound of the 70’s. This isn’t surprising as Rick Pekkonen who also produced AM radio darlings Bread and Seals & Crofts produced “Before Today”. Ariel Pink has cleaned up and widened his palette of sound on this album and his lo-fi rumblings are now more clearly discernable all courtesy of his new label, 4AD.
“Before Today” takes off with the vaguely Pink Floydish opening track, “Hot Body Rub” before delving into the swinging cover of the Rockin’ Ramrod’s, “Bright Lit Blue Skies” which sounds like a spot on artifact from the 60’s down to the buried vocals. Ariel Pink’s band Haunted Graffiti effortlessly switches gears into the AM realm on “Fright Night (Nevermore)” which features far out knob twiddling as an effect. “Round and Round” could pass as either yacht rock or appear on the soundtrack to some obscure After School Special about the devastating effects of increased drug use. The grungey rave up “Butt-House Blondies” shakes things up a bit with both its deadpan and flanged vocals.
After “Butt-House Blondies,” things become schizophrenic as the band veers from lo-fi noise rock and soft rock until it rests on the new wave closer “Revolution’s A Lie.” Consider it a personal reward if you can make it that far as the perpetual sea change was disorienting and at times, can be perceived as annoyingly pretentious. Once you work through that you’ll notice that Ariel Pink’s take on things is addictive and rewards upon repeated listening.
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