Get Shredded With Naked Giants’ “SLUFF”
Members choose #nakedgiants to receive “SLUFF” on bubble-gum pink vinyl
Who are they?
Naked Giants are made up of three slightly eccentric, and very talented, dudes who have been gracing the public with their scuzzy garage punk since 2014. The trio’s made up of the classic rock combination with guitar/vocals (Grant), bass/vocals (Gianni), and drums/vocals (Henry); no extra bells, whistles, or gimmicks necessary. What you see is what you get with these guys, however, since they’ve only just released their debut… I feel like there’s a lot we’ve yet to see.
The musicians (all in their early 20’s mind you) have had a huge year. While most of our friends are graduating college or “finding” themselves in Europe whilst studying abroad, these guys have toured all over Europe as well as the U.S. with indie rock favorites Car Seat Headrest. Not only did Naked Giants open for the very accomplished Car Seat Headrest, but they also played as their backing band, which rolls out to about two and a half hours a night (oof).
Music fills the streets of their hometown, Seattle. How could it not with legends like Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana making massive, irreversible dents on the music scene? So the question Naked Giants is left with is how exactly does one contribute to the legacy of Seattle bands, while also standing out amongst the hundreds of other indie rock bands? Well, they definitely have that whole thing figured out, and with ease it seems. With their wide range of influences from Jimi Hendrix and Ty Segall to R&B and gospel, and their offbeat sense of humor, Naked Giants have cultivated their own untouchable brand of scuzzy, genre-bending rock ’n’ roll.
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My Take…
SLUFF is the debut from psych-soaked Seattle garage punks Naked Giants. So, what the hell does “SLUFF” even mean? As Naked Giants would say, it means “everything and nothing.” They’ve also said it’s a PSA and a very serious warning to dolphins to stop listening to the album (“Stop Listening U Flipper Fools”). You know with the water and everything… they’re going to ruin the record. Clearly this is a band who is just truly worried about the quality of the album being ruined. Anyway, SLUFF somehow perfectly encapsulates the sound and feeling of the record; a bit dirty, slightly chaotic, indefinable, and catchy as hell.
The record does something that a lot of other garage rock albums don’t exactly accomplish; while the whole album sounds like a cohesive body of work, each song stands out on its own. Each track has their own recognizable shred-heavy fuzzy guitar riffs, thick basslines, and punchy drum beats. It’s an exciting record to listen to because there is no “leader” of the band, each member is at the forefront of the tunes, playing off each other like it’s just another in-studio jam sesh. There’s a deep-rooted sense of admirable camaraderie behind the record that you can’t just make up.
Favorite Tracks:
“TV”: Most recognizable riff on the album I think. The lyrics showcase their nonsensical, offbeat sense of humor.
“Easy Eating”: Damn catchy. This is the first tune I heard from these guys back in 2016 and it’s been “easy” listening ever since. Ha.
“Shredded Again”: It’s a reflective album closer. The slowest song on the record but the lyrics still maintain the strangeness that make the group so great. If you were to ever sing a Naked Giants tune around a campfire, this would be the one.
VNYL members can self-select #nakedgiants as 1 of their 3 vinyl records this month. Click here to join.
