Smiles

Smiles

S/t

Melters

***The new 7-inch from San Francisco's SMILES continues the Melters cult of Gerard Love worship, but you can listen closely and catch some nods to Primal Scream, the Paisley Underground or even Elliott Smith's later electric work. And as absurd as making guitar music may seem in this setting—are we fiddling while Rome burns?—there is a sense of awareness that keeps it out of the depths of self-pity. We like to think of Smiles’ MANI CHOCANO as a piper out of frame in one of those Danse Macabre renaissance paintings, spinning a sad song that is catchy enough to pull each estate into the breach. You might think that's a stretch; we'll see you at the bottom. Four tracks.