Nice Face

by Einstein Music Journal on Wed, 2010/03/17 - 11:59pm Post to Twitter

Jerking Off With Jesus

Any band backed by Sacred Bones Records deserves immediate attention and Nice Face is the latest from the label’s talented gene pool to capture my imagination. In the past the label has introduced me to Crocodiles, Moon Duo and Grass Widow.

Nice Face is the project of Ian Magee, a New York apartment dweller who discovered that you don’t need a garage to make garage rock; a shoebox apartment will do.  In 2008 he released his first 7″ with Sacred Bones before going on to release two cassette tapes and two more 7″ singles. Up until now he’s remained relatively unknown, but with the recent release of his debut album, Immer Etwas, he’s starting to creep into the doomy blog world. Like one commentator comically remarked, “(he) locks Blank Dogs in the pound, erases ‘Psychedelic’ from Psychedelic Horseshit, makes purses and boots out of Crocodiles, and, oh I don’t know…makes a puddle out of Wavves?”; Magee delivers raw aggression and shattering riffs, leaving many of his counterparts licking his dusty boots and losing their minds in agony. He’s not big on ideas (he’ll admit that himself) and he very much sticks to the punk aesthetic, working with whatever instruments he can find, borrow and afford, but his music has a spazzy elasticity, with speedy guitar riffs and reverb laden vocals, reminiscent of an early Jay Reatard project (think Terror Visions) or A Place To Bury Strangers if they added some fuzz. He’s got class and a mysterious hidden quality that makes his music fresher than most other new-wave punks; he’s not just the latest DIY buzz.

Swipe your Visa and purchase Immer Etwas from the Sacred Bones Records website

Nice Face- I Want Your Damage: MP3

Nice Face- Nobody’s Dead Here: MP3

Nice Face- Myspace