That’s how Cougars, if prodded, would describe what they are. That’s how your dad and his drinking buddies, if prodded harder, would describe what they are.
But for many, that simplistic description just isn’t enough. Granted, there are six of them. Amidst the swirling morass of dueling guitars, lock-tight bass and drums, menacing vocals, and ominous synthesizer, there must be something going on that deserves a prefix. It can’t be that simple. There needs to be generalized comparisons and convenient little genre tags to slap on them.
But there isn’t. In the end, when those efforts prove off base and futile, all you’re left with is “Rock”-- plain and simple. As it is, Cougars have done nothing less.
After signing with New York based Go Kart Records in the fall of 2003, Cougars released their self produced debut album Nice, Nice. It proved to be a record that amazed many and confounded many more, earning them stellar reviews and a spot in Alternative Press’ “100 Bands to Watch in 2004”. For many, Cougars left them no other choice but to watch as they took their blistering spectacle of a live show all across North America, supporting Nice, Nice and follow up Ep Manhandler (Thick Records 2004). To all that say “nay”, Cougars time and again broke the mold of typical indie/punk rock pigeonholing, gracing the stage with numerous bands from every corner of the rock realm; from Mastodon to Ted Leo/Pharmacists, from Supersuckers to Fu Manchu.
And the hits keep coming! With the helping hand of legendary recording engineer Steve Albini, Cougars have essentially captured the blaring intensity of their live performances on analog tape for their second full length album, Pillow Talk. A monster of an album featuring ten brand new tracks, it is a testament to Cougars unwavering raucous instinct. It’s an instinct that leads them not down a path of musical status quo, but rather to continue being merely what they know how to be, “a rock band making rock music.” Indeed.
