Track Review: Crocodiles – “Sunday (Psychic Conversation #9)”

[Frenchkiss; 2012]

Just a couple of days ago, San Diego outfit Crocodiles revealed that they will be releasing their latest full-length album on June 5th via Frenchkiss entitled Endless Flowers. Their previous albums, Summer of Hate and Sleep Forever, have received moderate reviews. With this upcoming album, they’re hoping that the third time’s a charm as they seek to finally breakthrough in the indie music ranks.

“Sunday (Psychic Conversation #9)” is the first cut from the album that shows them retaining their psychedelic, noise rock sound with The Jesus and Mary Chain serving as the obvious influence. Sadly though, not much has changed, if anything at all. Vocalist Brandon Welchez still sings in a laid-back, relaxed manner drenched in reverb while the fuzzed-out, effects-laden guitars sound, well… the same as they’ve always been. The thing with this track is that it can easily be mistaken for any other song in their catalog. The only thing that’s different is that it’s more pop in structure, but it’s repetitive to the point where it makes the whole track bland.

If “Sunday (Psychic Conversation #9)” isn’t the best track to promote as the single for Endless Flowers because it doesn’t give off the best impression that anything has changed with their direction. I’m not saying that their music is downright terrible. It’s just that when you’re a band with a couple of albums under your belt with a third one due out, you expect a bit of a progression in the music or at least the addition of something new to make it exciting. Unfortunately, that’s still missing here.

MP3: Crocodiles – “Sunday (Psychic Conversation #9)”

3/10