I believed (wrongly) the rise of ‘80s nostalgia had peaked and subsequently begun to fade. But our unflagging obsession with that decade’s culture—whether it be music, art, or television—seems to show no signs of slowing down. Today the latest thing to transcend decadal conventions is Netflix’s hit series Stranger Things; tomorrow it’ll be something else, and, as far as I can tell, it could go on like this forever. Fortunately, Shampoo’s work manages to stand out from the heaps of artists looking to rehash Reagan-era pop.
We’re a little less than a week out from the release of the Atlanta trio’s debut LP, Terrible Heat, a record that I’ve been anticipating since the release of their three-track demo in 2014. That brief release and consistent touring up and down the East Coast has fueled the band’s precipitous rise to this point, with the build-up to the new record only serving to pile on the accolades and anticipation.
Recent single “Inside Out (All That I Want)” shows off Shampoo’s prowess when it comes to writing bouncy ‘80s pop songs. Catherine Quesenberry’s synths gleam and Rush Myers’ guitar chugs while he croons in pensive falsetto. The track sports an undeniably infectious groove led by springy bass lines and zippy leads, and it’s less brooding than either of the other recent singles, “Hanging Up On U” and “Make Us Pay.” There’s a Smiths-like quality to the song, a comparison that can seem as inexplicable as it is inescapable.
Not only does the band look back towards that decadent era for inspiration, but they recognize the time they exist in, mining it for fresh takes to ensure their work feels new and relevant. The group’s Bandcamp page for those early demos sends thanks to both Johnny Marr and Sky Ferreira, two artists whose names are rarely mentioned in the same sentence, but between which Shampoo may have found a unique place to belong.
We’ll find out August 19.
Shampoo will celebrate the release of Terrible Heat on Thur., Aug. 18 at the Mammal Gallery. Supporting them will be Erica Eso and Red Sea. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $5.
More Info
Bandcamp: shampoo.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @shampooatl
SoundCloud: @burthday-pony