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The Prids’ ageless core—Mistina LaFave and David Frederickson—have not only made the band a vital part of Portland’s ever-changing music scene for nearly three decades, they’re perhaps at their creative zenith.
I Only Care About You and Me is the most cohesive record of their career—the songwriting, performances and the production. Hooks and singalong choruses come seemingly out of nowhere. Producer Larry Crane (Elliot Smith, Cat Power, The Thermals) allows everything its own space, bringing out Geordie Thompson’s drums and Cass Yates’s keyboard and bass textures. This is the Prids’ strongest lineup, and the band already has another album’s worth of material set to record. In other words—this is just the beginning. |
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Tracklisting
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“You Drive, I’ll Shoot”
The opening track’s buzzy guitar hook comes right in, curls up next to you, and sinks itself right into your grey matter. It’s Us vs. Them, and you’re along for the ride. “Tell You Nothing” Shimmering guitars, and vocals telling you sweetly, “I wanna tell you nothing, and die in the summer,” make for a true summer love song for lovely weirdos. “Heart Attack” There’s something comforting about this track. A shoegaze ballad that’s familiar, yet otherworldly. “Everything’s the Weather” It’s overcast. Maybe a drizzle. And then the chorus unpredictably breaks through the clouds in the form of power chords, synth and a melodic bass line. Gloom and sunshine collide—everything’s the weather, indeed. “If I’m Honest” The track from which the album title originates. Not only that, it boasts the top-notch lyrical turn, “Do you know where all the kids smoke, I do / they don’t miss you when you’re gone, I do.” With sweet vocals from LaFave toward the back half, this song will stick with you when you least expect it. |
“Bear On a String”
Pop perfection from the opening notes, and then the song continues to morph and shape-shift as it goes. Synths trickle in and out. Guitars continue to build off the song’s strongest hook, and before you know it, you’re somewhere completely different than where you started. “Sore” Classic Prids. A little dark, a little rock ’n’ roll. Frederickson’s and LaFave’s vocals dance with one another. The bass makes its own song over the guitar strums. All is right in the world. “Vex” This lead-vocal turn from LaFave might be one of the purest she’s ever put to wax. The lyrics evoke skepticism. Those give way to a driving instrumental turn, before the loveliest girl-group “la la la la la la la la’s” take the song out. “Wake Up Sorry” Dreamy and dreamlike. Do we have to wake up so soon? “Flight” The jangle is strong with this one. And it immediately grabs you like a long-lost FM radio classic you frantically tried to record on to a blank cassette. The imagery of taking a flight to new destinations (or away from something or someone) is alway captivating. What a closer! |