Music

PREMIERE: Listen to the Courtneys' new 7-inch, 'Mars Attacks'

by Mark Teo

Even if they’ve only released one album and a handful of singles, we’re absolutely obsessed with the Courtneys. That’s largely because their sonic formula is so damn likeable: The Vancouver-based trio blend Flying Nun-esque jangle, an unabashed love of the pop culture of yore (see: Keanu Reeves, 90210, The Lost Boys, and so on), and simple-yet-brilliant lyrics into stripped-down pop brilliance. We’ve been awaiting the follow-up to their self-titled debut, and we’ve heard hints of what the Courtneys were recording at the Noise Floor—namely, they released the “Lost Boys” single last winter, which continued their foray into ’80s-savvy indie pop. (Sample lyric: “You look just like you did in 1986 / That’s why you’re my vampire teenage boyfriend.”) Predictably, it ruled.

Now, Hockey Dad Records has shared the next evolution of the Courtneys with the Mars Attacks,  7-inch, set for release on November 4. This time drawing on ’90s pop ephemera—the song references the 1996 sci fi-comedy of the same name—things proceed in typically Courtneys fashion, until they don’t: Yes, it’s built around an addictively breezy guitar riff, but with layered, near-choral backup vocals, the track feels as maximalist as anything the Courtneys have ever written. Then, the real left turn: Vancouver bizarro MC Young Braised steps up to the mic, adding an unexpected, but strangely wonderful, rap bridge. Is it weird? Absolutely. But does it work? Undoubtedly.

The 7-inch is the first release since Burger Records cut their “Lost Boys” single, and if you dig what you hear, order up a copy via Hockey Dad. There’s only 500 of these suckers being pressed, on alien green, glowing orange, and flourescent pink. Order one up here.