Florist Fired

Five years is a long time. Five years is an excruciatingly long time for a band like Marmoset, who reside in a city referred to–often derisively–as Naptown. Somehow this band has managed to bottle into one album all of the idiosyncrasies and pathos that have, to date, made them the critically-acclaimed band we all love. Merging the Swell Maps-inspired tumultuous clamor of their debut EP Hiddenforbidden, the addictive two-minute anthems on Today It’s You, and the epic (for Marmoset at least) joyful dirges from Record in Red, Florist Fired has it all.

Although principal songwriter Jorma Whittaker possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of Beatles-esque melodies and is more likely to cite John Lennon and friends as his musical influences, Florist Fired leaves listeners with the unmistakable feeling that the band owes much more to a Keith Richards-led Stones swagger– without the budget or access to premium pharmaceuticals. In contrast to the seemingly lecherous, self-loathing gems penned by Whittaker, guitarist Dave Jablonski offers up detached ethereal odes like a man with his head truly in the clouds.

Coming on the heels of Secretly Canadian’s 100th release and 11-year anniversary, it’s fitting that one of the label’s first bands is back. This is the perfect opportunity for those who have long treasured the Indianapolis trio (and elevated them to cult status), as well as those fortunate to be hearing them for the first time, to now hold hands and exchange the knowing glance that they’re hearing something that matters.

The idea of being a traditional, functioning band has never quite caught on with the men in Marmoset. Their live shows and behind-the-scenes breakdowns are spiritually aligned with the likes of Brian Jonestown Massacre; but unlike that self-conscious revolving-door band from San Francisco, the music you hear from Marmoset is pure sound vérité. No need for a ballyhoo project like Dig!– although the harrowing tales Marmoset could tell would certainly make for riveting viewing. Until the public is ready for such a trip into the madness, tension and ecstasy that is Marmoset, the aural documents that constitute Florist Fired will serve quite nicely as their chariot on the road towards canonization – even if only in the pages of Irwin Chusid and Julian Cope.