by Jare C (@jareccurtis)
There are very few bands in the stratosphere quite like Cheekface. The band’s last record, Too Much To Ask, was filled to the brim with bonkers lyrics and deadpan vocal delivery, bouncy and punchy drumming, and zippy guitar lines, all which found relatively favorable reviews when the album dropped back in August. That record, which packed with the trademarked “talk-singing” of the band, as well as incredibly danceable beats and fun instrumental breakdowns, turned out to have a few b-sides that didn’t make the cut of the final album. Don’t Ask (b-sides) is just the extra dose of Cheekface fun that any indie rock, power pop punk fan will enjoy.
The entry point of this collection of songs is “If I Catch On Fire Please Put Me Out,” a fast paced, bouncy jaunt, with an instrumental setup that allows for some really fun, tongue-in-cheek performances. In the chorus, frontman Greg Katz sings, “If I have a heart attack please give me CPR / and continue the compressions ‘til the ambulance arrives,” a line who’s informational density contrasts the floaty guitars and conversational piano keys with a classic Cheekface fervor. “It’s A Free Country, Baby,” the second track, centers around a blistering drum performance that plays cat-and-mouse with the playful bass line and wailing guitar melodies. The final song, “Headache,” is probably the most experimental of the bunch, with a setup that is clunky and chunky, but intentionally so, matching the lyrical content of the song, where Katz laments having frequent migraines.
Like most b-side releases, it’s understandable why these tracks didn’t make it to the final record. A lot of them have similar setups and elements to other tracks that exist on the album, but equally there are a lot of moments that are unique and incredibly enjoyable. Any fan of Cheekface, or just danceable, fun indie punk in general, should give this a listen. They will absolutely find a fun nugget to add to their library.