专辑简介

In Spring of 2006, a plague of brightly colored plastic tambourines threatened the foundation of a crowded shanty. Social Studies, based out of San Francisco, took the stage for the first time, sweating out the indie pop anthems that had been building up inside them since adolescence. After gaining a reputation for their energetic live show, Social Studies’ released their debut EP, This is the World’s Biggest Hammer, in Fall 2006. The EP layers Natalia Rogovin’s sassy-sweet vocals and addictive retro keyboard hooks over the cutting guitar shards of guitarist Aaron Weiss. Underneith, Darren Henry’s dubby bass lines and Michael Jirkovsky’s lively postpunk beats hold down the fort. The combination met with immediate praise from the local press while the album charted in the top ten on KALX and KUSF, and garnered frequent airplay on college stations across the country. The San Francisco Bay Guardian gave Social Studies “high marks for their cheerful blend of Casiotone-charged melodies and stripped-down tempos,” noting “the quartet knows how to rock a dance floor by playfully weaving a nostalgic arcade hook between flushed bursts of guitar and disco drums.” Social Studies also received recognition for their complex and innovative arrangements. The Deli Magazine called Social Studies “extremely talented and relentlessly inventive songwriters. Whether it’s trumpet accompaniment or four part chant-like harmony, Social Studies’ songs often go in unexpected and wonderful directions.” Never ones to slow down, Social Studies is already working on their first full length album and will head out in May 2007 on their first tour of the Pacific Northwest.