The man behind EZT, Colin Michael Gagon, was a member of Smog and Bonnie ‘prince’ Billy. In fact, Bill Callahan (Smog) produced this album. Gagon doesn’t stray far from his influences – if you like Callahan (smog), Oldham (palace), Molina (songs:ohio), or Berman (silver jews), you will want to listen to this album. While he follows their low-fi, sparse indi-rock/country sound, he adds more than he takes from it. Yet this is hardly 4-track slop rock – it is low-fi mostly in spirit and instrumentation – the result, I suspect, of good production. His vocals are quite dynamic, finding both ethereal upper registers and nailing the low stuff. Gagon’s lyrics are absurd, intelligent, and provide interesting images – for example: “I think I could kill the President/with my bare hands” and “moon people come out with rifles.” Highly recommended. Matt M.


Play this song* (seriously**)
1. **Mid-tempo – this could be a Palace song – it has that indi-country rhythm. It is really good.
2. Mid-Down-tempo – a little psychedelic – a bit too long at 5:03.
3. **Mid-down-tempo – This begins very sparse and builds into a great rock ballad in the third act. It is worth playing just to hear him sing: “I think I could kill the President/with my bare hands.”
4. *Mid-tempo – another indi-country rhythm – very nice.
5. Mid-up-tempo – FCC “shit” a little sloppy, with a slide guitar. Lyrics are particularly absurd and fun. “I want to drink my weight in blood.” Or check this one out: “The streets of Quito run to the Rio/where the moon people come out with rifles.”
6. Mid-up-tempo – some female vocals – a little bluesy in that 70’s-repetitive-guitar-lick sort of way. It is on the rough side as far as rock goes – a loosely structured. Not the best on the album, but has a great title – “Fingerless Children.”
7. *Down-tempo – very pretty song – steals the chord progression of “Wild Horses.”
8. Up-tempo – this one rocks in the Crazy Horse fashion – there are some sinister fiddles in the middle.
9. **Down-tempo – sparse and amazing – wow – melancholy that makes me peaceful – distinctive female backing vocals. “I got cuts” Great song.