Washington Social Club - s/t

Name: Washington Social Club 
Album: Washington Social Club
Year: 2004
Style: Indie Rock, New Wave, Punk
Similar Bands: Walkmen, Cursive, Shins, The Jam, Strokes
"One-Word" Review: The-DC-Strokes
Based Out Of: Washington DC
Label: N/A

Washington Social Club (2004)

1. Breaking the Dawn 2:28
2. Modern Trance  4:09
3. Let the Night Begin 3:08
4. Backed to the Future 4:30
5. Dead Kid Town 2:52

Album Rating (1-10): 8.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Amy Morrissey - Engineer
• Brian McTear - Producer, Engineer
• Olivia Mancini - Bass, Backing Vox (Her Majesty's Orchestra, Leland Sundries, Edie Sedgewick)
• Randy Scope - Drums (Her Majesty's Orchestra, Pree, Heavy Breathing)
• Bill Moriarty - Engineer 
• Paul Sinclair - Engineer
• Evan Featherstone - Guitar 
• Martin Royle - Lead Vox, Guitar
• Paul Hammond - Mastering
• Paul Sinclair - Mastering
• Mike Martinovich - Contact

Unknown-ness: I had heard of this band when i picked this ep up for a dollar at AKA back in the late aughts, but i really didn't know of them...I must have heard of them in the same breath as other bands I liked at the time, but never took the time to explore this purchase until now

Album Review: I imagine this is a sampler from their first record, Catching Looks, or actually, listening to the quality of the recordings, a pre album EP with most tracks ending up re-recorded on the album (except Let the Night Begin). The vocals have a snotty faux British quality with a youthful angst that is more new wave than punk, but still has an anxious spirit, trying to jump on the coattails of the Strokesy sound, or maybe they were poised to be DC's answer. On this EP, the songs sound much more raw and energetic than their smoother album counterparts. There are some vocal harmonies placed over power pop chord changes and the whole package seems would make a fun live show.

Based on their bandcamp page, they took an 11 year break between album two and a 4 rack ep in 2019, and have been holding down the name since with what appears to be the same line up. 

Stand Out Track: Modern Trance

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