by Patrick Pilch (@pratprilch)
Aye, beware the hooks: Little Piece of Hair is a doozy. Century Egg know how to write songs that stick like a greasy cowlick in the morning, and their latest EP is a capillaceous pillar of joy-struck guitar rock that refuses to be combed back down. The Halifax quartet’s rambunctious cross between punk, garage and Mandopop makes for some deliriously exuberant “rock and roll” music we all could use right about now. Little Piece of Hair begs listeners to celebrate, to move and let loose and to shake the stagnant waters of our own trauma and disappointment.
Century Egg squeeze indelible riffs and back-patting optimism into every hook-laden corner of Little Piece. The magnetic “Do You Want To Dance?” sets the pace, a rollercoaster opener that’ll grab you by the collar and say “Hey, I just want you to be happy.” A clean power-pop riff from Meg Yoshida (drums), Robert Drisdelle (guitar) and Matty Grace (bass) boosts vocalist Shane Song’s exhilarating inquiries: “Oh yeah / Do you want to dance? / Do you want to smile? / Let’s do this for a while / Every night.” It’s a moment of sheer delight, a song to play at a party or parade or at least for your rock-positive dad.
Century Egg dig their heels into their Thin Lizzy influence on “I Will Make Up A Method” and take a wonderful cover crack at Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s “Ring a Bell.” Side two kicks off with the highlight title track while “Cornered” caps off the EP, allowing Grace the chance to lay down some sinister scaling bass licks. Little Piece of Hair is easily one of the most joyously fun records I’ve heard all year. It makes me want to wear sunglasses or drive my nonexistent convertible, sometimes both. Century Egg’s latest batch of blastoff rock will wiggle into the back of your brain, set up hippo(camp)us, and stay put until you come back for more.