Audio By Carbonatix
Just over two minutes. That’s how long it takes Cheap Time’s song “People Talk” to embed itself firmly in your brain. It’s a scuzzy bit of candy pop, all buzzsaw guitars, incessant bass, crashing cymbals, and snotty vocals, recalling the band’s ’70s influences like Milk ‘n’ Cookies, The Quick, and Sparks while illustrating a crucial pop-song edict: If you can’t say it in less then three minutes, it’s probably not worth saying. The Tennessee band is led by Jeffery Novak, a Jay Reatard associate who’s issued some spiky psych-pop singles of his own. The band’s sophomore album, Fantastic Explanations (and Similar Situations), followed up the band’s no-frills debut LP with some of those psychedelic touches but retained a charming, stinging wit on glammy tracks like “When Tomorrow Comes” and demonstrated the power of brevity on “Woodland Drive,” which clocked in at a remarkably brief 1 minute, 38 seconds. The group will more than likely leave concertgoers wanting more after it hits the stage at the Yucca Tap Room this week, but that’s precisely the point — you can’t overstay your welcome cranking out feisty gems like those.
When news happens, Phoenix New Times is there —
Your support strengthens our coverage.
We’re aiming to raise $30,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to you. If New Times matters to you, please take action and contribute today, so when news happens, our reporters can be there.
