Slabco
1997
Haulin' Grass And Smokin' A**
About This Album
After a series of spotty 7-inch singles and cassette releases, Sukpatch further developed their distinctive sound on Haulin' Grass and Smokin' A**. The twee pop underground had been firmly established by Beat Happening and other bands revolving around K Records in the Pacific Northwest long before Sukpatch's arrival. But Sukpatch brought a funky hip-hop sensibility, and fused these appropriated sounds from the street with seemingly incompatible bedroom pop. The formula for each Sukpatch song is simple: drums inspired by hip-hop and assembled on a cheap sampler; thick Casio keyboards that owe something to British new wave; and engaging melodies sung with a relaxed tone. Adding another wrinkle to the sound, all of the above is assembled at home on a four-track cassette recorder, which lends a charming, homemade quality to the proceedings. Taken together, Haulin' Grass and Smokin' A** is an extremely engaging and fun record, and an original one to boot. "Flock-Sultan" is punchy drone pop, not all that far from where Stereolab was a few years earlier (though much more lo-fi). "Smooth Guys (American Mix")" seems inspired by Depeche Mode circa 1982, with a lazy sampled backbeat taking place of the lock-step drum machine. It's true that there is a certain "sameness" to Sukpatch's sound, but when each individual song on Haulin' Grass and Smokin' A** is so compelling, indie pop fans won't mind a bit. ~ Mark Richardson, All Music Guide
Track List (try tracks 1,2,3,9 and 15)

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