Prayer For Animals

LeVon Smee: Once in many moons comes a group like Prayer For Animals, whose mystical ability to distill fifty years of Rock And Roll into such a unique, powerful and heady brew sets them apart from Indiedom’s never-ending cavalcade of two-dimensional hipster bands. Indeed, this is the genuine article. Formed in 2005 in Arlington, TX, theirs is a potent blend of explosive dual-guitar rock, vintage cerebral keys, a galloping rhythm section, and coolly-delivered, unironic vocals. Their sonic palette is a nerdy record shop clerk’s dream; informed by everyone from Booker T. & the M.G.s to Sonic Youth, from Crazy Horse to Can, from Charles Mingus to Spiritualized. It all comes together on their DIY debut album Swell, a smart, sprawling cross-section of these influences that somehow manages to create “a beast entirely their own” (Dan Goldin, explodingsound.com). Intense yet graceful, progressive but never pretentious, Prayer For Animals is ready to unleash that beast on an unsuspecting world.

Exploding In Sound: These Texas boys have embraced their surroundings, developing an amalgamation of rock genres into their own southern fried blues attack on the masses. With prevalent influences ranging from alt country, Americana, surf, and psychedelic rock, Prayer For Animals have created a beast entirely their own. This is the LSD inspired blues rock of the 70s, the down home spirit of Americana, and sun bleached surf rock rolled into one tight and cohesive package. The band wails through an eclectic range of ambitious stylistic shifts, with diverse influences including Neil Young, The Doors, Pavement, and Television. Prayer for Animals has delivered a debut release that manages to sound relaxed and genuine despite its sweeping musical complexity and intricate creativity