#22 on the 2022 Bacon Top 31 — Cheekface
Too Much to Ask by Cheekface
Cheekface are a riot. The Los Angeles-based trio led by Greg Katz on guitar and lead vocals, Amanda Tanner on bass and backup vocals, and Mark “Echo” Edwards on drums call themselves “America’s local band,” three basic words that reveal a surprising amount about them and what they stand for. Katz and Tanner’s lyrics dive deep into anxiety and sociopolitical unease, topics near and dear to my heart, and Katz delivers them with a talk-singing patter that is dry, witty, and absolutely dripping with sarcasm. The post-punk/power-pop blend works extremely well.
The song above, “We Need a Bigger Dumpster,” became an anthem on my beloved KEXP shortly after Too Much was released, reflecting so accurately the feelings we all experience when we’re forced to face the state of the world around us. Please hit play on the video above and revel in its stock-footage ridiculousness. It was the power of this one song, as played on KEXP and heard for the first time while my son and I were driving to Port Townsend for the 2022 Thing festival that caused us to immediately download the album to hear the rest of its majesty. Throughout the rest of the year, any time “Dumpster” came on the radio, which was often, my family would sing the super-catchy, much-repeated lyrics at the top of our lungs. All music should be this fun.
In my research for this post I learned that some fans of Cheekface, the band whose third LP Too Much to Ask is the #22 album of 2022, call themselves Cheek Freaks. I don’t think I’ll ever be a big enough fan to rise to Freak status, but here in early 2023 I can’t unequivocally say I’m not headed in that direction. Perhaps now you’re pointed down the same road I am. If so, give the album a listen and see what you think. On top of that, the band has released a 3-song accompaniment to Too much, called Don’t Ask (b-sides) EP. It is equally as good and catchy. “Why’d they put the headache so close to my brain?” is a question I never thought to ask but I’ll be damned if it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Enjoy.
__________________________________________
23. Dripfield by Goose
24. Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You by Big Thief
25. And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow by Weyes Blood
26. NOT TiGHT by DOMi & JD BECK
27. Preacher’s Daughter by Ethel Cain
28. Live at KEXP, vol. 10 by Various Artists
29. All You Need Is Time by Daisy the Great
30. Cool It Down by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
31. CAPRISONGS by FKA twigs
There are many ways to listen to the 2022 Bacon Top 31. Subscribe now and enjoy the new albums / songs as they are revealed on the countdown!
Full Album
All albums in their entirety.
Radio Station
A single song selection pulled from each album.