In Hear This, A.V. Club writers sing the praises of songs they know well—some inspired by a weekly theme and some not, but always songs worth hearing.
There’s something about the recent revival of ’90s indie-rock and power-pop that’s irresistible to me. I’m a sucker for huge hooks and abundant “whoa”s, so when I first heard Pet Symmetry’s “A Detailed And Poetic Physical Threat To The Person Who Intentionally Vandalized My 1994 Dodge Intrepid Behind Kate’s Apartment,” I was smitten. With a lineup boasting members from some of Chicago’s best indie-punk bands (Dowsing, Into It. Over It., and others), it’s not surprising that the song with the wordy title succinctly encapsulates everything that made this style so invigorating in its heyday. The drum ’n’ bass intro sets a toe-tapping rhythm as Evan Weiss weaves a tale about an act of violence against his much beloved, recently deceased car, Carol. When Erik Czaja’s guitar kicks in, the simple chord progressions lay a final, sickly sweet layer of melody atop the already irresistible foundation. Because of this, “A Detailed And Poetic Physical Threat…” begs the listener to hum along through the song’s verses and sing along with each gigantic “whoa” that punctuates each chorus. It’s a simple, highly effective track that sets a template for the band, and with two 7-inches already released and a full-length promised for later this year, if Pet Symmetry keeps functioning at this level they won’t just be pulling influences from Evan Dando, they’ll start getting talked about in the same breaths.