Fond of Beavis and Butthead and the American flag, self-defined brat-punks Slutever maintain their status of rad with the release of Pretend to Be Nice. Whether heard via download or vinyl (black or the limited and very sold out option of red), Rachel Gagliradi and Nicole Snyder’s Pretend to Be Nice aptly highlights the duo’s strengths, snarky diction and fuzzed out riffs, while capturing the energized finesse of a basement show. The one-two click start of “I Can Dream the Rest Away” captures the misgivings of a disillusioned romantic or a dreamer in a faux relationship, unfolding like an anthem of longing mixed with frustration and a dash of indifference. Dreamy ahs premise lines like “You’re sleepless, you’re restless, this will never go away,” giving Pretend to Be Nice’s longest a moody surf pop vibe that makes ballads by bands like Best Coast seem lacking and overly sweet. A cleaner cut of “No Offense”, plays out louder than Sorry I’m Not Sorry’s rendition with thumping drums and the occasional jangle of tambourine. Between the two versions of the song, the newer of the two bridges the gap between demo-style lo-fi and femme fronted noise pop like Vivian Girls’ debut or Las Robertas’ Cry Out Loud. “RIP Maple” (which is about a beloved bong) rolls in with crashes of cymbals and Gagliradi’s trademark vocals alongside guitar shreds. Ending with “So Prone”, the 7" is an impressive snapshot of the band’s growing potential, leaving fans waiting for them to reach “buzz band” status and start selling out shows. Below is the premiere of "RIP Maple" for you to check out, and you can also order your copy of Pretend to Be Nice HERE. – Dianca Potts
