Pleasure Pill - ‘Hang A Star’

San Diego’s own Pleasure Pill have been riding a wave of buzz lately, with a string of solid releases as well as a tour with fellow locals Benches under their belts. They’re now riding especially high after the release of their new LP Hang A Star, a propulsive and nostalgic-tinged alt rock vibe that retrofits a number of old school styles through a modern outlook.

Hang A Star is not shy about its ‘90s Britpop worship, definitely (maybe) taking cues from the best bands of that era - Oasis, Primal Scream, Pulp. But Pleasure Pill manages to maintain the quality of those past benchmarks via catchy, introspective songwriting and layered production. Wistful, uplifting ballads like “Line Up The Stars” have a surging power to them - a perfect mix between whistle clean sounds as well as shredding reverb along with pulsating alternative rock rhythms. Groovy guitars and bouncing basslines consume opening track “Favorite Color Gold,” with bold, dauntless moods and swelling choruses setting the tone. There’s also hints of jangle pop and power pop on tracks like “Get There Soon.” Everything culminates in the epic, buoyant six-and-a-half-minute anthem “Don’t Fly Away” - a sort of thesis statement that encapsulates the album’s searing, cathartic, communal-feeling, go-for-broke mentality. On top of that, from a visibility standpoint, it’s one of the bigger releases from an emerging San Diego indie band in a while. Definitely (not maybe) worth a spin!

You can go ahead and purchase Hang A Star HERE, and feel free to preview it below: