The Growlers are SoCal’s modern psychedelic misfit pranksters. Brooks Nielsen’s irreverent sense of humor is on display throughout Gilded Pleasures, as
he delivers off-kilter lyrics in his always-deadpan, baked-throat rasp like “little girls don’t last forever, enjoy them while you can” in “Dogheart II.” The album’s highlight, “Humdrum Blues,” features a healthy wash of colorful and lysergic waves of slow-rolling psychedelic sway emanating from Matt Taylor’s guitar. “Pretend I’m Gay” has a bent-up, whiskey bar sound taking a page out of the country blues sound that The Doors so favored. With a bent-up and
distorted style nodding to ‘60s surf rock, The Growlers continue to deliver a modernized take on the enduring slacker psych-rock sound. Flowing by in a flash, this quality output lends itself to repeat listens.