Obits – a band born from the ashes of several beloved acts: Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes, Edsel, Shortstack, and Pitchfork (no, not that Pitchfork). The common thread running between the majority of these bands is Rick Froberg, the vocalist and guitarist who lends Obits their familiar, yet exhilarating, sound. And it is Obits’ guitar work that continuously steals the show, including on new single, “Shift Operator.” The band sounds like a veritable throwback with overt palm-muting, intertwining guitar lines, and a layer of fuzz that thankfully cannot be described as lo-fi.
No, Obits is nothing if not a band of professional musicians, each of which excels at his craft. Oftentimes, such technical proficiency can strangle a band’s creativity, but Obits avoids this pitfall with ease on “Shift Operator.”
Froberg’s vocals are equal parts singing and shouting, yet the track never veers toward hardcore or punk. Instead, this is as pure a brand of rock & roll as you are going to find in 2011. It is a welcome change not to have to sub-categorize a band to death. If you like rock music, you should like this song. Simply put, Obits is winning…
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Obits - Shift Operator
