Original Crooks and Nannies | photo courtesy of the artist
Listen to the 80s-infused debut LP by The Original Crooks and Nannies
The Original Crooks and Nannies, the garage-dance duo from Philly featuring Madeline Rafter and Sam Huntington, released their new album Ugly Laugh back on Saturday.
The band has been making music together for a year now, and their new record is a ten song collection of 80’s-infused indie rock with dance-able rhythms and chugging guitars. We here at The Key wrote about their video for the single “Carry Me” last Friday, and we are liking what we are hearing.
On Ugly Laugh, Rafter and Huntington trade lead vocals and harmonize on songs such as the jumpy “Throw Out” and the rhythmic “Central Heating.” The duo channels not only dance pop such as Ra Ra Riot or Chvrches, but also indie emo like Death Cab on “Crying At The Dog Park” and “Holy Wreck.”
Rafter’s vocals are bright and lofty, and they mesh well with Huntington’s when he cuts in to turn a phrase (like “eating pringles” or “leftover chicken parm from the fridge”). Their lyrics are direct and honest, like when Rafter sings, “At three I’ll switch to beer so I can be my most sincere.” Ugly Laugh is a grocery store grab-bag, and a pretty damn catchy and heartfelt one at that.
OCAN will be bringing their “synth magic” to The Aquarium on Friday, March 25th. More information can be found here.
Listen to Ugly Laugh from The Original Crooks and Nannies below.