Not the usual stuff from Flat Black. Cat Party have a definite early-to-mid-’80s U.K. post-punk sound. Sort of like early U2 (they used to be good!) mixed with a band like Chameleons UK. The music is cold and dark, yet driving. There’s a detachment in the vocals, and a sense of despair. What hooks me in with this is the guitar and bass. The bass is solid and pushes the songs forward, while the guitar creates the mood. “Dead Weight” is perhaps one of the mellower songs on this album, but maybe the best cut in an album with no filler tracks. The guitar is syrupy and lush, the vocals are haunting, and the bass and drums direct the experience without being overbearing. These guys pull the sound off quite well. Listening to this gives me the same charged feeling I experienced when I first heard bands like the Cure, Felt, even U2 some twenty-seven or more years ago. It sounds fresh and alive. –Matt Average
L.A.Record (Cat Party’s self-titled debut LP on Flat Black Records)
Cat Party dutifully follows the tradition of power-pop: straight-forward, hook heavy and amplified. Echoes of the Nerves, the Wipers, Sonic Youth and Hüsker Dü jump out in perfect 4/4 from their new self-titled full-length from Flat Black Records. You can just picture the all-ages show behind the skate park under Southern California skies, where Roger, Ryan and Richie honor the tradition of the power trio and create the tableau for skaters to sniff glue and fuck around. Themes of isolation and impending responsibilities will be recognizable to anyone forced to grow up too soon. You’ll nod along to songs like “Product of the Eighties,” “Let The Bullets Through” and “Entitled” and say, “I know this song—I get this.” The intensity offered up here is the same as when you first heard the Descendents in your bedroom or Nirvana at the local record store, but Cat Party effectively shifts and rearranges what came before them instead of falling prey to mere mimicry. The guitars are bright and chiming, the drums thrash and propel, the bass anchors your swirling thoughts. Go get this—you’ll be stoked.
—Eyad Karkoutly
-BIG WHEEL Online-Magazine-
Cat Party - "S/T" LP
Here at Big Wheel it’s no secret that we love Cat Party. Their 7" E.P. was voted almost unanimously by our staff as the best record of 2008. In fact it’s difficult to talk about this band without coming off like a well paid street team. Now that we’ve gotten all of that out of the way, Cat Party have successfully followed up their aforementioned 7" with a record that is somehow better than their debut. They have maintained their signature sound which has repeatedly inspired comparison to iconic bands like the Wipers, TSOL, Joy Division, but they have also grown as a band, creating a tighter dynamic and a brighter sound. Overall this is a louder record, with clearer vocals, guitar riffs that stick out just a little more, pounding bass lines, and a faster tempo. This is most noticeable in the new versions of songs from the bands’ previous releases, such as "Jigsaw Thoughts" and "The Aftertaste," but also shows through in fresh material like "Product Of the 80’s" and "Tar and Feathers." The record is ended on a quieter note with "Let the Bullets Through," which is played on an acoustic guitar with some added reverb. Needless to say this is not the feel good record of the year, but it is an impressive feat from the most promising new band in Southern California. FLAT BLACK RECORDS -Ditch-
Maximum RockNRoll Magazine
This reminds me of the NERVES but somehow more macho. It has that kind of LA power pop sound sung by boys that seem like they've given up in a total sad dissappointment way. "Entitled" moves more towards a less countrified GUN CLUB or some less dramatic NICK CAVE project...
-TeamGoon.com We saw Cat Party for the first time a week ago at an in store record release show at Vinyl Solution in Huntington Beach. We really enjoyed them live, so we figured that I would pick up a copy of their new release for $3 (out Rich Bitch Records). Both the A and B sides are equally amazing. Catchy mid tempo songs without being predictable, flimsy or corny. These songs are well written, solid musical gems, and are lyrically superior!
Written by Big Wheel Media
-OCWeekly-
...Cat Party appear to be operating under Oop North Blighty's miserable gray skies rather than Orange County's sun-of-a-beach atmosphere. Exhibit A is "Of Prey," whose sulking bass line, glum, alternately crunchy and twangy guitar, sluggish tempo and woebegone vocals place the band 180 degrees away from the Beach Boys' "Fun Fun Fun." By contrast, "The Aftertaste" brings the Goth rock with a decided spring in its step, as if it's trying to shake off a proverbial cape of gloom with some effulgent guitar riffing. This must be their storming live-set closer. The final two songs—"Jigsaw Thoughts" and "Entitled"—compose Cat Party's 7-inch single (Rich Bitch Records). Mildly undulating and catchy, "Jigsaw Thoughts" is charcoal-hued rock, while "Entitled" is a monochromatic chug with a long face. Overall, Cat Party's songs (thus far, anyway) have a limited range of dynamics and move linearly and unsurprisingly, but for what they are, they're effective. One black-nail-polished thumb up.
-SYA Records(Italy)- CAT PARTY: Jigsaw Thoughts e.p. - Medium/low tempo punk outta L.A. that recalls the blackest of TSOL or maybe a little Christian Death. These songs are well written. This band is so awesome. (Ritch Bitch)
-7 Inches.blogspot-
Cat Party "Jigsaw Thoughts"/"Entitled" 7"--
When you've had enough of the shitgaze, give this a shot, it's nicely produced but definitely has a little of that edge. It's clear.... which is a nice change to my ears and I keep getting these couple of tracks in my head. I'm really liking it, but it didn't hit me right away, it's grown on me the past couple days. It's kind of reminding me of Jesus and Mary Chain vocally...there's something classic indie rock about this sound, like the pixies or something, but dark...more like Joy Division. I hate to use these huge comparisons but it's really accessible like that stuff but still sounding ominous.... It could practically be something from the Crow soundtrack.
'Jigsaw thoughts', is standard power chords, musically it's not reinventing a genre or anything and it's the vocals that really keep me coming back to this, it's a little echoed and half sung, he's not too 'I don't give a fuck'...it's just the right amount of aloofness. 'Entitled' is another great straightforward track, no weird tricks or effects, just kind of depressing and definitely classic....oh I know...like sisters of mercy....it's taking me back for sure. On Rich Bitch Records.
-OCWEEKLY- Cat Party-Live at Gypsy Lounge
Cat Party have a neat low-fi, quasi-grungy edge to them, something you don't see a lot with the many poppier bands around here--their influences include The Replacements and the Murder City Devils--so it should be a good night for those feeling up to odysseying to south county.
-7 Inches.blogspot- Cat Party/Cut City Split 7"
Really impressed with this split 7" by Cat Party & Cut City. I can't stop playing it. 'The Aftertaste' by CP has that chiming new wave guitar, nonchalant vocals & spunky bass with some cracking chord changes that sounds like a lost 80s classic. The only band I can think of that sounded a bit like that were maybe Fischer Z but that's really stretching my memory back. Cut City's 'Replacement' is another anthemic new wave-esque number that sounds a little bit Psychedelic Furs. Dense and catchy with a scratchy, feral feel & a foreboding vocal that bursts into a gliding bird in the euphoric chorus bits. It makes me think of Flock of Seagulls crossed with Interpol and just doesn't last anywhere near long enough. One of those obscure beaut's that no-one else will have heard of and you'll treasure for the rest of your days. On Monotonstudio from Deutschland.
featuring: A Place To Bury Strangers, Mayyors, TV Ghost, Talbot Tagora, Mutators, Thomas Function, Cheveu, Cat Party, Crash Normal, Tyvek, Movie Star Junkies, Lovvers, UV Race, Meercaz, XYX, Nice Face, The Drums, Juri & Elettra.
ONE OF THE BEST DIY SHOWS YOU'LL EVER SEE IN SCLA...
11/20/2009 07:00 PM
- BASEMENT SHOW - Expreciones Colectivas Autogestivas Ponk (PIÑATA HOUSE)
452 W. Vernon & Figueroa
LOS ANGELES,
California 90003
- RABIA
AL SISTEMA - SOCIAL CONFLICT - VIACRUSIS - TUBERCULOSIS - HUMACHINE -
MASS TERROR - FESTER YOUTH - LAGM - PAZ MUERTA - SIN REMEDIO COMING UP.......
12/04/2009 07:00 PM
- L.A. CIRCLE PIT
- PUNK THE F#CK UP @ THE INFEST - HC PUNK FEST -Vol. 1
3201 MAPLE AVE
LOS ANGELES,
California 90011
Cost:$10
- UNION
13 - DR. KNOW - THE TRIGGERS - SOCIAL PARACITES - THE RUNTS - OVNI -
VIACRUSIS - POLICE STATE - HUMACHINE - PAST APOSTLES - JOHNNY X (vox) - HUMACHINE
very fawking sad that i missed your LBC shows 3 times.... i havent seen you guys play in a while. hope to make it to the troubador show. <3 you Cat party.
i always dug that tune live, sounds great, your vocals sound raspier ryan in that greg sage/ kurt cobain kind of way which gives me a hard on. stoked for the next record we get to do with you guys! lp is still moving really well, be sold out in no time.
Great show on sat....im glad i made it out......really dig the new material...see u cats again soon hopefully...will let you know if im in oc we can hit up that costa mesa park....
THANKS FOR TAKING ME ON YOUR TRIP WITH YOU GUYS! HAHA WHEN OUR NEW BAND IS READY WE WANT TO PLAY WITH YOU DUDES. ALSO WHATS THEW STATUS ON YOU GUYS RECORDING AND SUCH?