Council of Lions – Bees Knees
When I first experienced this three-piece a few months back at Ladyfest Bellingham, I saw a band that blasted through a set of loud and brash songs songs in which each note and beat was executed with absolute certainty and ownership (yet brash, I know!). Now, for some reason I managed to focus only on the sounds of the instruments, so that when I left the show (sorry, Sarah!) I couldn’t remember any of the vocal melodies or lyrics (my usual selling-points). Now, flash forward several months in which Council of Lions tour the West Coast and play many hometown shows that I manage to (again, my fault) completely miss.
Bee’s Knees, Council of Lions’ first release, was recorded during this time by Mark Heimer (of No-Fi Soul Rebillion and known user of the Recorder Man drum-recording technique) at the late, great Friendship City (RIP). Hail to all factors involved in the recording process, because this EP sounds really, really good. I mean, really good. This EP begins with a track that ridicules my first experience of this band an acoustic song with melodies and lyrics that instantly stuck to my ears like morning wax. Bee’s Knees continues in this fashion, trading the acoustics for thUMPing bass lines and fast, loud guitar melodies that I immediately fell in love with. “Spent Sex”, “Fishing For Matches” and “How To Sit Tight” all stick out as instant favorites that demand more play on my stereo.
The final track, recorded sans bassist Jen Hartman and on what sounds like my old Emerson cassette recorder, closes this EP in the same vein as it began; unfortunately it is far too short, which is why I feel this EP should be pressed as a 33rpm 7″, because let’s face it: this EP would sound great on vinyl! Oh yeah: to all the other bands I’ve seen once and haven’t paid attention to since: please forgive me. I’m learning.
Self Released
myspace.com/counciloflions
