Bonnie’s State of Mind is another one of those albums that might as well not have a Side A or B; for me, it all starts with “Melt in Your Home,” and that’s that. It’s a beautiful ode to SY that treats arpeggios as they used to be treated, before OPN and the analog set (ha, not that one of course) turned it all into a computer-generated feat of programming. But then there’s “Sinking in a Pale Cloud” too, and that’s a slinky, deceptively brilliant cut, half abrasive highs, half cool, shades-on-at-night flow. Freak Heat Waves should give their bass player a raise, as they’re hard to find in this condition; also, FHW tweak around with experimental tropes more than your average indie-rock band. Therein lies a bit of a rub-a-dub: I mean, that’s just dandy fellas, the noise-isms, but what does it mean? Musicians shouldn’t feel like they have to delve into noise and the like. It’s been done, and we all are expecting it at this point. I like bands that know what they want, bands that bring home the goddamn bacon. Freak Heat Waves? Fuck, despite my little rant there, actually do pull the pork quite well. Bonnie’s State of Mind manages to establish their template while playing the seeker role, searching several different portals for sounds to suss out. These guys might be The Boggs all over again, a band with the chops to do anything (literally other than rap both of these groups seem capable of almost magical flexibility) but no clear direction. Then again, I dig/dug The Boggs, so no logic in discounting this approach. Obviously I’m a conflicted individual with a lot of issues to iron out, projecting all over these poor fellows like a bad movie director. Check out the record for yourself, it’s a trip that’ll leave you stuttering and yammering.
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