A Minnesota-Madison co-op between Yuasa-Exide and Boo/Hiss sounds good on paper, but even better in practice. Each act contributes six originals, with each adding a cover of one of the other’s songs. By now, you should know I have no qualms about screaming through a megaphone how amazing the lo-fi narcopop of Yuasa-Exide is. But blasting We Are The Frogs and 1234 Jennifer through the speakers will be a way more effective strategy to raise eyebrows and start rapid-fire questions (“What is this? Who is this? I need this”). Once you’ve discovered this project by Douglas Busson, you can’t escape it—nor would you want to. And it’s not just his original songs. The cover of Boo/Hiss’ Banana Songs evokes a sense that the world needs a Yuasa-Exide record full of choice cut covers.
Songs 8 through 14 are by Boo/Hiss (featuring Heather Hussy and Josh from Heather The Jerk), and they feel like a natural companion. Trading Yuasa-Exide’s crunchy side for a more garage pop-oriented one, and as lo-fi and fuzz and hiss-laden as they are, the songs by Boo/Hiss are easily digestible and super likeable. How It Was, for example, is catchy and the chorus hits hard every time, while IDW has a highly effective buildup to the “I Don’t Wanna” chorus that’s sung with just enough annoyance. But really, most, if not all of these Boo/Hiss tracks contain contagious elements, and Yuasa-Exide’s Marjorie is simply a wonderful pick to cover.
Must-have tape, this is! Best keep an eye on both of these artists, because I have a sense they’ll return shortly on these pages.
Add to wantlist: Bandcamp