In most musical worlds, "weird" generally means one thing: unconventional. In the indie rock world however, breaking rules is not just the norm, it is the very foundation of the genre. So, whether the Weird Weeds are in fact weird depends on which side of the (main)stream you actually stand. While the band members do share a mutual love of unconventional abstraction, the trio tinkers with the obtuse sounds you might expect given their backgrounds (Drummer/vocalist Nick Hennies has performed with Xiu Xiu and guitarist Aaron Russell has ties to Deerhoof). But with Weird Weeds you'll also find an unusual strain of gentle folk mixed in, making for some admittedly unexpected results.

Like albums by bands they've performed with, Weird Feelings is initially an eyebrow-raiser, but the abrasive quality loses some of its edge with each subsequent listen. Album opener "Bad Dreams" is fleeting and bittersweet, consisting of the lyric "Silly fights make for bad dreams/of blood and death for both of us/let's never sleep this way again" backed by a haunting, broken music-box sound. Hennies and Sandy Ewen (guitar/vocals) contribute the fragile, somewhat off-key vocals over the entire album, and their blended voices create a charming, eerie atmosphere. The excellent "Tupper" features slightly menacing guitar with the breathy vocal duo of Hennies and Ewen and some discordant strings. There's a lot to take in, and you'll hear something new with every listen.

Weird Feelings is erratic. It's kooky. It's a little unnatural, and, well, weird. But, like its creators, it's eventually endearing. While it's far from a perfect album, the Weird Weeds have shown they can hold their own in the experimental realms, and their future development will be interesting to see.

Megan Petty
August 11, 2006