The debut album from rising L.A. indie rockers Fat, Evil Children; an airtight collection of melodic jangle and breezy indie folk fit for summer listening. Lead single “Taking Your Place” reminds us of Elliott Smith jamming with Surface to Air Missive, featuring whispered vocals and an infectiously jaunty guitar groove. The whole of Fat Evil Dogs, Fat Evil Cats, Fat Evil Bears, Fat Evil Rats touches on many key elements of contemporary indie without ever sounding derivative, which is a true testament to the band’s songwriting ability and inventive production style, as demonstrated in the album’s opener “I Won’t Change My Mind”. Across its 12 tracks, there is never a moment wasted, and the sleepy Americana of “Fooled” could very well be the release’s centerpiece. Here, the pairing of Nicolas Skrabak’s introspective lyrics and Truman Sinclair’s clean production is truly a winning combination.
Joyful Union Cassette Resource 