It may sound facetious, but The Murder City Devils changed my musical trajectory while simultaneously blowing my teenage mind when I saw them supporting At The Drive-In in London all the way back in December 2000. Admittedly, I knew very little about the band before they hit the stage, but by the end of that show, I owned every single release. It is fair to say that until that point, I had never witnessed such energy, chaos, and sheer passion on stage. A significant part of their appeal was frontman Spencer Moody‘s gruff vocals and intense stage presence.
Fast forward to 2023, when M.Krebs‘ debut album, “Peggy Lee,” landed in my inbox. Immediately, I recognized the distinctive vocal delivery and vivid lyrical imagery even before seeking out the credits. I soon discovered that the band consisted of the aforementioned Moody, Brian Yeager, and Jeff Alvarez. With Moody and Yeager‘s rich musical history and Jeff Alvarez joining on drums, the chemistry oozes out of the speakers. The resulting album showcases a unique blend of shoegaze, indie, folk, and punk that deserves back-to-back listens.
The opening track, “John Prine,” and the title track, “Peggy Lee,” set the tone with scattered instrumentals and intricate drum patterns that give the lyrics the space and attention they deserve. The tempo is lower than expected, given the members’ past endeavours, but this plays in their favour. This time, there is no hiding behind a wall of guitars and thousand-miles-an-hour riffs; everything is under more scrutiny. It works a treat and demands your full attention.
Each subsequent track offers its own allure. Take the haunting ballad-esque “Middle Ground,” which could be the soundtrack for an incredible reveal in your favourite TV series, or the intense “Walk The Ocean Floor,” built over a hypnotic bass line and atmospheric keys, or the album closer “Songs In The Key Of Maynard‘ with its sparse and eerie progression. There is a unifying sound across these 12 tracks, but each stands on its own merits, suggesting an attention to detail and fine production ability that should not be taken for granted in an era of throwaway singles and short attention spans.
As far as debut releases go, this hits all the marks for me and suggests that the three-piece is in it for the long haul. Indeed, they have already announced that they are working on a second album, and vinyl enthusiasts can look forward to an LP version currently scheduled for the Autumn.
“Peggy Lee” is a captivating work of art, showcasing the band’s intricate songwriting ability and their knack for seamlessly weaving Spencer Moody‘s wonderfully poetic words together with a gorgeous backdrop of tangled sounds. With their raw and authentic sound, M.Krebs join the long and illustrious list of bands that ought to make Seattle proud.
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