The Smashing Times are back, and if Mrs. Ladyships and the Cleanerhouse Boys doesn’t become your new favorite, then you’re missing out on one of the freshest slices of MOD-infused indie pop this year. With a nod to Merseybeat and a wink to 60s revivalism, the Baltimore band delivers a jangly, shimmering sound that’s impossible to ignore. And seriously, how many times can you really watch Blow-Up on repeat when the real revolution is happening outside your front door?
Their latest, out November 1, 2024, via K Records/Perennial, is their fifth album, and it’s everything fans have come to love about the group. Mrs. Ladyships and the Cleanerhouse Boys, the album’s title track, perfectly captures the band’s ability to blend the modern and the nostalgic, layering 12-string guitars with mallet-slammed floor toms in a sonic collage of sharp, sparkling sound.
Featuring scene stalwarts like Thee Jasmine Monk and Zelda-Anais from The Smashing Times and Midden Heap, alongside Britta Leijonflycht (Almond Joy, Children Maybe Later), Paul Krolian (Expert Alterations), and Blake Douglas (Corduroy), the album is as much a celebration of the underground scene as it is a showcase of The Smashing Times’ evolving sound. Written and recorded by Jaz at Druid House, and produced by Hayes Waring and Thee Jasmine Monk, the album’s polished and punchy feel owes much to the mixing prowess of Capt. Tripps Ballsington and the mastering by Amy Dragon.
Channeling the influence of The Television Personalities and Dan Treacy, The Smashing Times elevate their psychedelic, twee, and freakbeat blend to new heights on their second LP. The guitars shimmer and jangle, the vocals float dreamily, and every track is brimming with energy and hooks that dig deeper with each listen. If this album had come out in the 80s, it would have been snapped up by Whaam or Dreamworld, but luckily for us, it’s 2024, and K Records is bringing it to life. Ready your playlists, pop kids, because The Smashing Times are here to make your heart skip and your head spin.