by Seth Daspit (@gazeisdone)
Having played their final show on September 18th, Yucky Duster should be remembered as one of the most happy-go-lucky, ambitiously melodic, and vocally harmonic bands today. Great bands shine in unintentional moments. For the Dust, it’s when a song ends and we hear the last chord ring out – and puts in perspective just how special the songwriting is once it’s gone. Instead of mentally moving on to the next song, we’re hung up. “Big Boys” is the song that wholeheartedly encapsulates this.
In their past discography, “Blue Elvis” was that song, too – a down-on-heartbreak tale with descending bass lines and country-like riffs that round out a void in the heart, only to get uplifted by a chorus that is still as sad, but at least there is a message you can sing heartily. “I don’t want to see your face / but you show up every place / and I still want you… / Blue / Ahhh….” By the time the last “Ahhh…” comes and the song ends, there are brief twinkle serenades that metaphorically lifts perspectives. A realization that whatever is motivating you to sing the chorus passionately – you will rise beyond it.
“Lamp” would have made a great acoustic track (or a cover, if anyone tries it) because the opening verses commanded attention the same way those opening lines of “Elementary School Dropout” did. A simple concept of turning a lamp on, but not being able to – it is a great, metaphorical, and intimate topic.
“Grump” is the single of III that got ridiculous, picnic-gone-wrong music video treatment. Maggie Gaster’s pleading of “Please say what you mean to / Don’t act like it’s a chore to get it out,” is the perfect prelude to the chorus, especially combined with Madeline Babuka Black’s encompassing drum rolls. The slithering moments of Luca Balser and Zack O’Brien singing, “Don’t say something grumpy like I always say to you,” just for Maggie to swing back into the verse in between them is the real highlight beyond the chorus. Moments such as this can make an interviewer wish they could ask the burning question of, “How does the band orchestrate everyone’s vocals?”
Maggie, Luca, Zack, and Madeline created a brand of twee-pop with genuine fun – like conversational rants in between verses fun – along with the utterly standalone and versatile melodies that no other band can quite recreate. “Very Good Day” is a fitting finale for the quartet with the closing lines, “What keeps me up at night / I don’t know / I don’t know / I don’t know.” Of course, the lines are harmonized together.