Na naaa na naaa! All right! All right!
Not only is Clarissa Explains It All a sentence-long band name, but it’s also named after a TV show. Contemporary, unobscure pop culture references as band names usually denote a lousy to mediocre band methinks, but in this case, Clarissa Explains It All is an interesting, not bad in the slightest bit of musical engagement (that sounds sort of pedantic, doesn’t it?).
At first I was a little on the unexcited side when it came to their goofy, uninspired sounding lyrics, but other than that, this was a good, solid math indie sound. I don’t know if ‘math indie’ is the proper term to use for this style, but I don’t know of a better one. The band reminds me a lot of The Americas, who used to be from Chico, and I saw about a million times. Anyway, it sort of felt like the whole lyrical, non-aesthetic end of the band was a sort of afterthought to accompany an extremely talented guitarist who wanted to write songs that were fun for him to play.
Then it hit me. Primus. Clarissa Explains It All is taking its ques from Primus. Y’know. Write a bunch of songs that are sorta funny, but then back it up with wicked incredible solos and stuff.
Which is not to say that Clarissa Explains It All is ripping off Primus by any means, but it is a similar concept. All in all though, this band is really rad, and not for the overly-serious.
Check it out: Myspace, Bandcamp, Circling The Drain