It’s only fitting that FIDLAR would garner such considerable recognition in the year 2012. While eschatologists continue to ready the world’s “imminent doom,” FIDLAR find themselves on the opposite side of the spectrum: partying like there’s no tomorrow. It’s a reoccurring theme on the band’s debut EP, which correlates garage-rock aesthetics with lyrics about weed, drinking alcohol, and yes, skateboarding. Artists who approach similar subject matters tend to fall victim to lyricisms that reek of superficiality. But DIYDUI represents no such thing. FIDLAR emphasize their don’t-give-a-fuck attitude with such tumultuous energy, that naysayers to stoner-rock may eventually warm-up to the band’s superb craftsmanship.
FIDLAR succeed on what many consider to be the most fundamental aspect of singer-songwriting: creating catchy tunes. Though the band approaches their garage-rock aesthetics with clamorous detail, they never lose sight in accompanying them with infectious vocal melodies and guitar-lines. This is especially true on songs like “Oh” and “Wait for the Man” — songs that counterbalance uproarious rock with singable choruses. But when it comes down to Zac Carp and Elvis Kuehn lyrics, FIDLAR are also a band of great humor. No, they’re not a fan of confirming to everyday society (“so fucking cheap; so fucking broke”). They’d rather be causing a stir at a local house party or screaming out “fuck the police” when the police attempt to shut them down.
One of the most impressive aspects about FIDLAR’s uniformity is their ability to correlate drunken humor with dexterous musicianship. True — you may be snickering at their stoned-out lyricisms (“Max Can’t Surf”), but you’ll also be admiring their creativity in stringing together such humorous subject matters with dexterous instrumentals. On “Wake Skate Bake,” the EP’s brawniest track, Carper sings about “watching television static” and “doing crazy drugs” while the rest of the group plays guitar-crunching rhythms of breakneck speed (not to forget Max Kuehn’s excellent drumming). It perfectly captures what FIDLAR are all about: getting high, “drinking beer with their best friends,” and riffing the hell out of their instruments.
FIDLAR demonstrate just how exhilarating garage-rock can be under the hands of deft musicians. Though DIYDUI only consists of four tracks — each of them one to two minutes long — it succeeds on such a universal level because the band never loses sight of traditional songwriting elements. They’re certainly a band to look out for in the near future — one that’ll likely stay in the blogosphere throughout the rest of the year.
