Two Man Giant Squid’s New Single “Progress” Questions the Very Existence of Such a Thing
When you hear a band name like Two Man Giant Squid, it really gives you little to know idea what a band sounds like which is perfect for a band like this that blends garage rock, punk, and psychedelic into a rocking but also danceable and catchy rock song.
The song opens with a drum beat that is reminiscent of a slightly slower version of the drum intro to The Dead Kennedys’ “California Uber Alles” then gets matched with a bass line that just syncs together tighter than an aphid’s anus. This is followed by two guitars blending the high lead single picking with the garage guitar riffs. The part that really got me was the vocals. It reminded me of my favorite DC rockers, The Shakedown's vocal sound and delivery. Maybe a little of (International)Noise Conspiracy too but deeper. The vocal rhythm patterns are a call to get on that floor and shut up and dance.
About midway through the song, the drummer switches to a full dance beat with steady two-handed 16th notes on the hi hat and a bouncy bass and snare beat below. Which really makes me want to jump up and down around a dirty smelly club.
The bridge with the vocal harmonies brings the temp down for a second but then rebuilds back into a bold, in your face return to bring the rock.
‘I could see fans of bands as far ranging as The Talking Heads, The Replacements, Iggy and the Stooges and even Pink Floyd loving these dudes.
Lyrically it seems to be about how progress is not only not always inevitable, it’s not always good. I can appreciate this message since as a former history teacher, I always strove to demonstrate that events of the past or those coming in the future are not preordained, they didn’t have to or don't have to happen that way. We are all actors with agency and our choices and those made by others around us can cause us to fail to progress in any meaningful way. The song takes the oft stated adage of “two steps forward, one step back” and changes it to “two steps back and two step backs” to highlight the difficulty of progressing forward in life whether as a person or a society. I’d be curious to see if anyone actually follows the lyrics as actual directions a la “The Cupid Shuffle” or what not i.e. do people in unison take two steps forward and two back during that part of the song? Part of me hopes so, but another part hopes that they are just dancing with the reckless abandon and freedom that a song like this evokes.
I’m stoked they are in Brooklyn because that means I might get to see them one day soon or perhaps even play a show with them in the future.
Check them single out here on the band’s Spotify or on our Indie Rock/Grunge/Garage Playlist
Check out their links here:
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