Cute idea, to name your album after a mythical bakery, whose chief claim to fame is being palindromic. Fortunately, long after the novelty of the album title has worn off, the melodies of this fine 4-piece band from the northwest will be floating through your head. Because of their band name and the label that they're on (Tooth & Nail), it would be easy to prejudge Pep Squad as just another flavor-of-the-month punk or ska band. However, they are neither. Despite the fact that Gene Eugene produced this album, Pep Squad's music is infectious sort with hints of Sixpence None the Richer, Driver Eight, and Starflyer 59, and the like. In fact, their album, Yreka Bakery, offers some incredibly radio-friendly, alterna-pop, in a style that's pretty much their own.
How ever they are classified, Pep Squad has a good mix of harmony-laden vocals provided by Bryan Everett, Kim Hoskins, and a host of others, and catchy pop-rock, with a bit of new wave, disco, and punk mixed in. The variety of styles executed testifies to the skill of this band - especially the drummer Evan Railton, who simply nails the various beats involved. Yreka Bakery is a very guitar-driven album, though not grungily so, with Everett, Hoskins, and even bassist Brad Swanson laying in guitar tracks.
The lyrics connected to the musical package, although minimalist, are generally insightful and humorous. The lead-in track, "Wild Pack" has as its entire lyric:
Right over here Right loud and clear Throw them to the hogs Wild pack of dogs and they chase you down
Deciphering the meaning behind this is interesting, as it can be read in several ways. Not only that, but the music to this track has a catchy, dissonant, repeated chord structure.
There are other standout tracks on this disc. "On That Day" is a direct quote from Paul's second letter to Timothy. It is one of those rare direct quotes that works, musically. "The Fabulous Moolah" shows that it is possible to write a song about a professional wrestler and make it worth listening to. "Freak Show" has a very 80's new-wave feel, but with a 90's rock sensibility. In short, it's a good song. There isn't really a bad track on the album, as you'd expect from a band that has stuck around long enough to record three albums.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that Yreka Bakery is a mature and intelligent alternative pop-rock album with enough of a sense of humor to keep the proceedings light and moving forward. It's hard to argue with that. It's quickly entered the "heavy rotation" section of my CD collection.
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #77Reviewed by Amanda NelsonPep Squad delivers a cool new CD, Yreka Bakery, through Tooth & Nail Records; not nearly as dark as their previous project and a little more fun. "Freak Show" is just that; a bit freaky but really playful. "On That Day" is very spiritual with lots of Bible lyrics, and much more mellow than I expected, and "The Fabulous Moolah" is a really cool song that I can't stop singing to myself. The beat…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Steven S. BaldwinGive me a P! Give me an E! Give me another P! Give me a S - Q - U - A - D! What does it spell? PEP SQUAD! Go Pep Squad, go! If the band name Pep Squad mentally conjures a group of alterna-pop cheerleaders, you would be close. If you envision a gaggle of cutesy, short skirt-wearing, guitar-playing, tumbling teenagers, however, the analogy has gone too far (although the band has been known to…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Michial FarmerPep Squad must not like to write lyrics. Of the twelve songs on their latest album, Yreka Bakery, one is a cover, one is taken directly from Scripture, and one has no words. The remaining nine tracks are all ultra-simplistic, lyrically, as the song "Wild Pack" shows: Right over here Right loud and clear Throw them to the hogs Wild pack of dogs and they chase you down This is the song in its…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Tony LaFianzaPep Squad has moved to Tooth and Nail for their new release, Yreka Bakery, bringing all of their energy and hooky creativity with them. This record is a leap forward in style and musical maturity from the debut on BEC, No Doy. Now a four piece band, with Bradley Swanson on bass and Evan Railton on drums, led by Bryan Everett and his sister, Kim on guitars, the Squad rings full, and sometimes,…Similar sounding releases
1996Poor Old LuA Picture of the Eighth Wonder
1997PlankeyeThe One And Only
2002The ZiggensThe Ziggens
1999The Juliana Theory / Dawson HighThe Juliana Theory Was The Only Thing I Learned At Dawson High
1997QuayleQuayle
1998Kosmos ExpressSimulcast
