the Laughing

Jungle smut-core, say it with me. Jungle smut-core. That’s what Austin band the Laughing is calling their sound for their new EP, Jungle, and I say it’s brilliant.

Their last album — Tiger Cry — is a bit moody with the baritone sax and the angular riffs but it’s compelling nevertheless. Like Morphine meets Clap Your Hands Say Yeah meets Dan, the lead singer from Wolf Parade. But this new album, talk about a step forward — they sound more confident, strolling though the halls of their school with a strut, the myriad of instruments don’t sound as though they’re competing for the same corner office and Logan Middleton’s vocals have hit an easy stride. It’s solid, it’s like a war cry, like they’re out for vengeance. From what I’m not sure, but it’s a great ride. (Pictured above is Grant Van Amburgh, the drummer, during their performance at their cd release party Friday at Club Deville. He’s a tremendous talent and he’s got a great freakin’ moustache.)

Click over to see other pictures I took from that night, including Bryan Keplesky painting a mural of cd sleeves (300 or so):

• my Flickr set
• Buy their EP from their label web site — the first 200 or so feature the artwork created Friday night

If you missed ‘em, they play again this Saturday at Beauty Bar with label mates Car Stereo (Wars).