fur and teeth - plateau, Don't plummet

Fur And Teeth

Plateau, Don't Plummet
self-released; 2013

3.7 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

Fur and Teeth is a two-piece band consisting of Eli Parsons (guitar/vocals) and Shawn Gaddie (drums) who have a bigger sound than most five-piece bands. On their recent EP Plateau, Don’t Plummet they deliver five solid songs that combine math rock, inventive original guitar riffs as well as creative drumming. The songs are the kind that work for almost any occasion; Pop them in to get your day started, let the songs spin in your next house party or even just put on a nice pair of headphones and enjoy the subtle complexities that they lay down. 

There are vocals on this EP but the symbiotic relationship between the drum and guitar parts is the real star of the show here. Parsons and Gaddie bob and weave through various changes per song and are usually best when the guitars are clean and the rhythms are complex and jagged.

The EP starts with “You can be the saddest clown,” which begins with the interplay of army-like snare work and steady guitar parts before transitioning into the verse of the song. Parsons’ vocals lay relatively low in the mix, which makes sense, as the drum and guitar are sonically attractive. The song is good although I would love if they could have increased the intensity of the song without having to lay on the distortion. 

The centerpiece of the album is the nine-plus minute epic “Too good to forget.” There are too many parts to count on this one but well worth your time to invest. It’s a fun ADD-intensive concoction of jangly guitar riffs and stellar drumming. By the end of the song it really opens as the math rock is in full effect. The cascading rhythms and scales create a diverse canvas for Parsons to sing over.

Fur and Teeth reminds me of the type of band that sounds good on record but blows your mind live. I’m sure these guys tear it up and seeing them live is a blast. So if you can't catch them live do the next best thing and check out their EP. Or just do both. It’s good stuff.

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