Brooklyn-based project Blanker, founded by former Upstate Escape guitarist and vocalist John Norwood, embraces momentum-filled indie-rock instincts and witty satire on newly released EP The Picture Isn’t Crooked, The Floor Is. Across its distorted guitar hooks, wiry electronic detours, and sardonic lyrical observations comes a deliberately unpolished DIY sound, full of memorable moments.
“I Know A Lot” opens the album with a raucously gripping guitar-forward energy, channeling a grungy riffage as his delivery proclaims “I’m turning over a new leaf today, ’cause humans are overrated.” The biting introspections on humanity meld aptly, escalating into an anthemic soaring in the ensuing “if there’s anybody left…” chorus, where added guitars and ghostly backing harmonies add to the excellent mix. “Geezer Groove” then shifts into another realm entirely, embracing a bass-forward allure as the lead presence spans from spoken-word briskness to an anthemic desire: “I want you to believe me,” showing fond shades of Queens of the Stone Age there.
Another highlight, “Blinded By The Sunset” invigorates in its “beyond our glory days, and blinded by the sunset” beginning lead push, reverberating as layered guitars shift to a twanging mystique in the subsequent verses; the shifts between vibrant hooks and more subdued envelopments show enjoyably. EP finale “You’ll Never Win A Grammy” closes it all out in satiating form, sending chills in the smitten “they can’t hold a candle to you” ascent and exhilarating overall build-up, ending with a fuzzy fade-out. The Picture Isn’t Crooked, The Floor Is is another excellent release from Blanker.
