Mary Timony, the main force behind the recently formed Ex Hex, is a punk veteran. First as a member of Autoclave in the early ’90s, then Helium later in the decade, Timony was a powerful figure of heavy, melodic slacker punk.
Throughout the 2000s, Timony has involved herself in a mix of solo work and side projects, the most well-known being Wild Flag, the 2010-formed girl-punk supergroup featuring Portlandia star (and ’90s punk-great in her own right) Carrie Brownstein.
Wild Flag disbanded after only one album, and now Timony has joined with drummer Laura Harris and bassist Betsy Wright for Ex Hex.
Rips, the trio’s debut album, holds many similarities to Timony’s past work, especially Wild Flag, though with less edge. The songs are poppier and more compact but retain the delightful, organic punk sound that characterized Wild Flag. For the most part, Harris and Wright provide a steadily strumming, rhythmic backdrop while Timony’s lead guitar trades off with her vocals, layering on unique, scrumptious melody lines.
The music embraces punk’s indebtedness to 1950s rock, pop and surf. The guitar work is excellent throughout—though never overly flashy—and the instrumentals as a whole often have an ironic touch to them while still managing to groove out. A psychedelic tinge to the instrumental effects and lyrics make complete the fun, surreal picture.
Though the songs are all catchy and enjoyable, when listened to as a whole the album begins to blend together. The songs nearly all follow the formula described earlier, which begins to grow old without enough distinguishing, unique moments.
The moments that do stand out are so impactful that one wishes for them all the more fervently. “Hot and Cold,” the album’s first single, slows the band’s usual energetic rhythm to a moderate stomp march and has an uplifting, triumphant sound, made all the more inspiring by feeling slightly tongue-in-cheek. “Outro” begins with a country lick that is mutated to a soaring lead solo by the end of the song. The concept album feel of ending on a song called “Outro” is enhanced by a Pink Floydian fade out and some musical moments that may or may not reference The Wall’s “In the Flesh.”
“War Paint” features prominent bass that plays with the guitar to complete the melody, conjuring memories of The Who. For the last minute or so of the song, the band finally allows themselves to take off, riding the song’s adrenaline and jamming it through new territory. These moments leave one wishing they would let go more often.
Overall, Rips leaves the impression of 1950s pop rock-and-roll tuned down, distorted, mixed with a slight hit of acid and filtered through feel-good ’70s rock radio. As Timony sings in “Outro,” “Take care/ don’t beware/ follow the sound.” Currently, Ex Hex is a bit reticent to take their own advice. Wild Flag was known for expanding songs live through psychedelic jamming. Let’s hope Timony’s new crew follows the same path and goes even farther on future releases.
Rating: B
