One of the most talked about local bands this year has undeniably been This Hisses, and the debut LP (or is it an EP? At eight hearty songs, we’ll call it a full length) Surf Noir does not disappoint. The trio of bassist/vocalist Julia Ryckman, guitarist Patrick Short and drummer JP Perron have all done time in a handful of bands, making this disc feel as though all roads in those groups were leading up to this bit of surf rock majesty. Keep What’s Good In Your Heart is the sad strummer that James from Twin Peaks would pine about Donna to, while Bronzed Etiquette might play when Laura Palmer wanted to get freaky. Swagger gets frenetic, taking the listener on a paranormal boogie past the gates of hell, while closer Lycanthrope is the party you have when you arrive. A solid disc from one of our city’s most important new groups.

Published in Volume 66, Number 1 of The Uniter (September 2, 2011)