Aural Pleasure Review
The Offbeats: 'F' (EP)
Published: March 13, 2013
The San Antonio four-piece The Offbeats — comprised of brothers Bryan, Colin, and Sean Foster along with guitarist Eric Romasanta — play a stubbornly catchy brand of punk-infused garage rock. F is the group's third official outing and a superb, albeit too short, follow up to 2011's well-received Lights Out in the City full-length. Opener "Little Rain Cloud" is a manic affair with an infectious chorus and a sound that's equal parts '60's garage (think The Standells) and '90's radio punk. "Yellow Line," even with a verse vocal melody that feels a bit too rough, is a rare smiley song and features some delightful piano parts which contribute to its overall irresistibility. F's final two tracks, "Girls Bat Last" and "All My Love" — my personal favorites — are respectively a tempestuous stomper with a fantastically effusive vocal from Bryan Foster and a grungy yet subtly pretty deconstruction of late-'50's doo-wop. The Offbeats have always been a good band with refreshing classic rock instincts, but with this EP they make a solid argument that they're getting much better than just good. Download it at theoffbeats4.bandcamp.com for just five bucks.
★★★★ (out of 5 stars)
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