The Smashing Times - "I Paint the Pictures"

I don’t think anyone would fault you for mistaking the Smashing Times for a Scottish band. While the indie pop outfit hails from Baltimore, everything about their sound and aesthetics screams Northern Britain. Their stripped-down, ramshackle pop songs are delightfully playful in the most endearing way possible and are reminiscent of many a great Glasweigan bands of yesteryear, including, but not limited to, The Pastels, The Wake, and The Valeslines. And while those acts are certainly part of the formula, the Smashing Times can still venture a bit far out there. Just take the title of their latest record, Mrs Ladyships and the Cleanerhouse Boys, as an example. It reads like a song title lifted from XTC’s psychedelic alter egos The Dukes of Stratosphear's tracklist. “I Pain the Pictures” is a song that embraces this psychedelic vibe wholeheartedly.

“I Paint The Pictures” is a bit more psychedelic than the other tracks on their new record, veering a bit away from pure pop territory and into the realm of Sonic Flower Groove era Primal Scream. The band heavily leans into the 60s influence on this one, drawing from classic British guitar pop and some of the more heady sensibilities of groups that repurposed the sound decades later.

Stream the track below!

You can purchase Mrs. Ladyships and the Cleanerhouse Boys on vinyl via Bandcamp. Keep up with the band by following them on Instagram.