To see a Drink Up Buttercup show is to witness an untethered release of energy that, by fault of sheer natural talent, creates deliciously chaotic music. As they pound away on their assorted “instruments” – garbage cans, toy trucks, tool boxes – I am ceaselessly amazed that such theatricality can also produce their carefully constructed sound. Numerous times I’ve found myself thinking “who knew that, hitting that, would sound like that!?” This audio/visual conundrum is just one part of the allure that keeps you coming back for more. It’s their genre surfing collection of songs that really turn you into a total DUB addict.
It is nearly impossible to classify Drink Up Buttercup’s as strictly one kind of band or another. As they’ve evolved from just another rock band to their current state of being I’ve noticed a very intentional weaving of various genre elements. From the psych-rock echo in “Mr. Pie Eyes” to the chamber pop chorus in “Lovers Play Dead” to the alt country jangle of Young Ladies, they have drawn on numerous influences to build a very distinct Drink Up sound. Lyrically they consistently maintain a respectable obtuseness/wit ratio to secure their “indie” cred. It is often the play between the words and the music that really shape the song’s overall draw.
The release of the forthcoming Born And Thrown On A Hook will truly define Drink Up Buttercup’s starting point and lay the tracks for greatness that is sure to follow. Be sure to pick it up when it is released on March 23rd, but be even more sure to catch the full Drink Up experience and see them live as I’m sure 2010 is going to be a big year for this Philly act. – Emma Zumberge, The World in a Paper Cup