Outside/Jagjaguwar
If there’s ever a way to dissect the West Coast vibe look to the fourth album by Pink Mountaintops the solo project of former Jerk With A Bomb Stephen McBean. For Get Back his latest and first since 2009 the Vancouver native relocated to Los Angeles where he seems to have dived headfirst into the city’s excesses.
Whereas VanCity is known for its weed-infused chillaxedness heavily exemplified on previous PM recordings L.A.’s weirdness and rock ’n’ roll folklore appears to have creeped into McBean’s persona on Get Back .
Pink Mountaintops appears to have received an electric jolt: from McBean channeling Iggy Pop’s wild side on the kraut-rockin’ Bowie-referencing “Ambulance City” to the Exile On Main Street swagger of “Sell Your Soul.” McBean has definitely found L.A.’s trashiness beneficial — look no further than producer Joe Cardamone of the Icarus Line as an influence.
And yet one track almost derails the whole thing. Opening the door to a number of guests (J Mascis plays guitar) McBean foolishly allowed Giant Drag’s Annie Hardy to rap over top of the sax-ravaged “North Hollywood Microwaves.” For two-plus minutes Hardy spews the most batshit stream-of-consciousness baloney waxing about eating a bear’s “ooey-gooey cum” of which we’re told both she and Rod Stewart had their fill. It’s juvenile embarrassing and for some will be enough to put them off Get Back entirely.
Which is a shame because after five long years it’s great to have McBean back and sounding more alive than ever.
