Fat History Month
Fucking Despair
(Sophomore Lounge)

Upon observing Fucking Despair adorned with a penis drawn inside a pear, it’s easy to see Fat History Month presented in a crude light. But don’t mistake its appearance for a punk album with no cause; those willing to look past (or appreciate) this mess of wordplay will arrive upon a dense survey of ‘90s indie rock. “Free as a Cat” opens Despair with a playful, bite-sized jaunt based on Ponyboy, a notorious cat referenced again in later tracks. The crude imagery may offset the deeper, cynical meaning within the dynamic of happy-sad pop rocks, especially beneath the shady parallels they insinuate between animals and humans. It’s not long before “Ponyboy” returns and shifts into a Slint echo chamber where the clamour simmers into unsettling territory. We reach Despair’s edge on “You Can Pick Your Nose…” just short of twelve minutes to match the song title’s length. Slow-burning melodic lulls stifle their urge to jump into chaosity, and instead, descend in lines of hallow guitar whispers. Tension boils and reveals itself in anxious drums, giving backbone to the slouching tune before it eventually storms and sinks into a frothing ocean. It’s disguised as meaningless, but each listen rewards those willing to settle in Fucking Despair’s unbalanced time. — Lara Kinne