They Mean Us

by The Ladies

Overview

Whenever a side band features a member from Hella, you know that noise is going to have to bubble to the surface at some point. And Hella drummer Zach Hill doesn't disappoint on 2006's They Mean Us, the debut release by his new outfit, the Ladies. Joining Hill is Pinback singer/guitarist Rob Crow, and as the press release states, the album can be looked at in one of two ways -- either as being "more adventurous than Pinback, or more accessible than Hella." But those who pass off the band as merely noise are completely missing the point -- both are obviously highly skilled at their instruments, as evidenced by the prog rock-ish "Nice Chaps, Buddy." Also, while the album definitely does have an off-the-cuff air about it, it turns out that the duo worked long and hard on it -- as it took two years to fully complete (and was produced at several different locations). That said, the din that hovers over the blink-and-it's-over "Black Metal in the Hour of Starbucks" is pure Hella. But it's an interesting experiment to hear both indie rock and noise worlds collide, and They Mean Us certainly works more times than not. Noise can indeed be melodic, and vice versa. ~ Greg Prato

Product Details

Release Date:	02/07/2006
Label:	Temporary Residence
UPC:	0656605309521
Rank:	178019

Tracks

1. Black Caeser/Red Sonja
2. Recycler 1A
3. Vacation, Asphyxia, Vacation
4. Empathy on a Stick
5. Recycler 1B
6. Non-Threatening
7. Black Metal in the Hour of Starbucks
8. Nice Chaps, Buddy
9. So Much for the Fourth Wall
10. Recycler 2
11. And Them
12. Mandatory Psyche Freakout

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Ladies   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

J.R. Thompson   Audio Engineer
Rob Crow   Engineer,Group Member
Zach Hill   Group Member
Jeremy DeVine   Design
Tony Cale   Assistant Engineer
John Golden   Mastering