Chris DeLine

In grunge’s wake, Sub Pop now rarely releases music that recalls the Seattle label’s heyday. And even though they don’t have the same bass-heavy, plaid-clad mystique, Obits reflect the same energy that once fueled the label’s phenomenal roster. With a sound reminiscent of the tinny, under-produced alternative (when “alternative” meant an actual alternative to the mainstream) bands that inspired the indie rock of the ’90s, Obits deliver a four-part reflection of what some might refer to as modern rock’s heyday. And when figuring the band members’ history into the equation, it’s no wonder why Obits sound the way they do. With musicians from bands such as Hot Snakes, Drive Like Jehu, Shortstack, and Edsel, it seems like Obits’ only choice was to sound like a garage-punk band—and a great garage-punk band, at that. With Chicago’s Disappears and locals the Dynamiters.

[This critics’ pick was originally published by City Pages.]