Totally Slow - Totally Slow

Those of you who thought this was a doom metal band just from the name, you are not alone. In fact, Totally Slow are anything but slow. From Charlotte, NC and signed to Self Aware/Headfirst Records, their upbeat mix of melancholic pop music is infested with surf, punk, and even metal vibes that bring a new and dynamic energy to this style of music.

I wouldn't say their music is unlike early Superchunk at times, but there is more to it than that simple feeling of pure energetic sadness. Totally Slow comes in heavy and hard with "Wasted Days,"screaming of lost opportunities and reminiscing on the past, which seems to be a central theme on the album. The phenomena of sad music making people happy never ceases to amaze me, and Totally Slow have it down. "Acid Rain" feels like a whiny pop punk song for most of it with lyrics "My love for you is like acid rain" that reminds me of those what many pop punk bands try to do but fail horribly by not knowing how to write decent lyrics. Totally Slow finds a way to say things with a certain subtlety that disguises this music as happy but also get the real message across.

Recorded at Legit Biz in Greensboro, NC by a great guy and a friend of mine, Kris Hilbert,  the sound on this album is great. "Highest Hill," particularly at the end with the repeated "Yeah," there were some very interesting and awesome things done with this recording to make it sound all the more awesome. As the album progresses, the variety of influences that Totally Slow have clearly drawn from is amazing. They switch from pop punk, to punk rock,  to rock and roll, to depressing emo-like meoldies in many songs with a rhythmic pattern and fluidity. And they don't butcher it. They are worth checking out if not for their song writing ability and pure catchiness, then for their efforts. They tried to make an interesting album that differs from the mainstream bullshit out there, and they did.

Check them out here