Marie Thee Queen is the latest single from Missoula’s Minot, a three piece lo-fi garage-punk band that I got instantly hooked on. The single features off the band’s upcoming album titled “Down & Out at the Thunderbird”, soon to be released on Drag Bunt Records October 2nd. . The single, and album itself, is gritty, fast paced and amazing. I had a chance to listen to the record and I’m loving their sound. After posting about Sex Mex a month ago, I’m stoked that there are more bands making stripped down and ferocious garage-punk like this.
The album doesn’t hold back punches and starts off with a tale of horror about a scarecrow murdering her farmer and this is just the tip of the iceberg. The ride this band takes you on is something else. However, Minot also have the ability to craft songs to make you move. Hipshake is one those tracks that is so infectious and catchy, its hard not to flail around and get lost in the guitars, keys and drums that crash into your eardrum. One of my favorite tracks on the album is Cry, Cry, Cry. The opening reminds me so much of peak Oh See’s during their San Francisco days. The track is nostalgic but also a straight up banger.
Another stellar track is Night Time, an homage to underground 60’s garage rock bands like Count Five and The Chocolate Watchband. The album ends with Slime, another fantastically written and composed track that is slightly slower with a bit of a different feel to the rest of the album. At this point though, I found myself just trying to catch my breath from everything that came before. This is a fantastic garage-punk record, written and recorded by three talented musicians using what they had available to make it happen.
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