The Slow Death - Casual Majesty
Nervousmaker usually focuses on movies, sometimes books, but the truth is, music plays a HUGE part of how I got here, to this very moment in my life. I started playing drums in 5th grade because I thought Rikki Rockett from Poison was so fucking cool, found much heavier stuff in 7th & 8th grade, and ever since my sophomore year in high school I’ve been playing in bands…I was 15 years old then…I’m 45 years old now, still playing in punk bands, and I’ve already amassed more than a lifetime and a half worth of memories: going to shows, playing shows, recording, touring, roadying… There have been a lot of high moments and an unfortunate number of low moments, but it’s a big part of the nervousmaker that I am today. One of the bands that I have many fond memories of is The Slow Death, from Minneapolis, Minnesota (TCMF!).
The first time I met Jesse Thorson, he made fun of me for being a vegetarian. He poked fun/talked shit (depending on their sensitivity) at all of my friends as we sat at Triple Rock Social Club eating an amazing hangover breakfast. And I laughed my ass off, because this guy was real. I ended up filling in on drums for his band, Pretty Boy Thorson & The Falling Angels, in (H)Elgin, Illinois, practicing once real quick right before the show and then killing it that night. When I was preparing to move to Minneapolis, Jesse came to me and basically said, “I hear you’re moving up by me, you’re going to be our drummer.” No question, just a demand, and I was more than happy to accept. I played in The Slow Death for a fairly short time, meeting some awesome people and playing some amazing shows, including a VFW(?) in Fargo with Off With Their Heads that took a near-death trip through a blizzard to get to and a sold-out (or really close) show opening for the Soviettes at the Triple Rock. I also managed to fuck everything up when my brain went stupid (aka anxiety/agoraphobia) and caused me to bail on a potential tour and quit the band. Regrets? Oh fuck yeah, I’ve got ‘em! But this is just my personal story; I was but a very brief, early chapter in the tale of The Slow Death. Now, more than 10 years later, they have just released their 4th full length record, Casual Majesty.
The Slow Death plays a melodic, driving, mid-tempo style of honest punk rock that the Midwest is known for. It’s working class music, angry but humble, disappointed but hopeful, fucked up but still trying. They play songs about life and love in the key of Fuck You #, never pretending to be anything they’re not. Hard-working, hard-drinking, hard-rocking songs with sing-along choruses that get stuck in your head. Buy every album they’ve released, they’re all fantastic! Click the albums above for direct links to buy these MPLS classics, or click below for some recommended bangerz…
Must hears:
Born Ugly Got Worse - “Song 1 Side A,” “Phantom Limbs,” “Dirty Jokes”
No Heaven - “No Heaven,” “Nothing is Cool,” “Hang Up the Phone”
Punishers - “All We Know,” “Overrated,” “Anything”
The Slow Death is not only Jesse Thorson though… just as important is Dave Strait, lead guitar and one of the nicest dudes in the world. Apart from this unstoppable duo, the other roles have been filled in with a variety of quality players (far too numerous to list). Casual Majesty features a goddamn all-star lineup. In addition to Jesse and Dave, check this out: Drums - Mikey Erg, Jack Gribble; Bass - Dylan Ritchie, Paddy Costello (Dillinger Four, The Arrivals); Guitar - Dan Johnson (Pretty Boy Thorson), Tony Grant, Josh Goldman, Davey Tiltwheel, Gater, Scotty Sandwich; Organ - Luke Lechler; Vocals - Annie Sparrows (Soviettes), Kat Naden, Saumer Kinsey (that trio right there makes up the God Damn Doo-Wop Band!), Mike Rose, Lydia Loveless, and all the rest…
Ten songs in 29 minutes, Casual Majesty opens with the melancholy “Is There Anything Left?” a slower track touching on disappointment, cynicism, and the lack of hope, questioning the point of it all. This is followed up by “Now I’m Into Nothing,” with a driving drum beat and all the guitar riffing you could possibly want, not to mention a cool organ track that acts as the head of this tall cold one, really topping it off right. “Make Em Go Away” has a classic feel to it, perfect for your Twin Cities playlist between The Replacements and something off Banner Pilot’s Pass the Poison EP. “I won’t apologize for who I am, and I don’t owe anything to any of them” sums up the attitude of The Slow Death, and the singalong chorus sums up their sound just as perfectly. “Imaginary Problems” keeps the record barreling forward, an upbeat track with awesome backup vocals and an almost Pixies-esque mid-section. “Maybe It’d Be Wonderful” slows things back down with a melodic, hopeful sadness (see video below). “Young Trees” is in contention for my favorite song on this album; it’s one the faster end of their spectrum, it’s got a great guitar hook right up front, and it’s very singalong-able. We ARE the young trees, waiting for the axe to fall… “Gimme One More Chance” continues the drive forward, putting into song the universal thought all of us losers have had: “Gimme one more chance…and I’ll fuck it up worse than it ever was.” As if in answer to the scenario brought up in the previous song, “I’m Not Letting It Go” addresses said fuck-up with a straight-forward, unforgiving response. The album closes strong, with the 1-2 punch of “Not Much For Waiting,” an up-tempo number with some cool twangy guitar, and then the closer, “A Quick One To Get Straight,” another classic in the making, that leaves you with the lasting flavor of The Slow Death: rocking guitars, tight drums, driving bass, and a reminder that they “don’t really care what you say.”
All this to say, Jesse Thorson and company have put out another great record, 10/10 songs are hits, and this is your chance to jump on the bandwagon and pretend you’ve always loved these guys so your friends will stop making fun of you. I love this band, they put on a great, belligerent, confrontational live show, and they know how to put out a great fucking record. 100% Nervousmaker approved!