Are You In Or Out?, The Growlers

The Growlers are a psychedelic 60s rock revival band that formed in California in 2006. Their first album, Are You In or Out?,  is quite a masterpiece that has been overlooked and forgotten with time. The album starts off with the upbeat, slinky, “Something Someone Jr,” which sets the tone for the retro-sounding tracks to follow. After a few more songs of a similar tone, the first side of the album comes to a climax with the epic “Old Cold River” which best demonstrates the characterizing lead-guitar style of The Growlers. Immediately after, there is a stark transition to “Wet Dreams,” a much slower, spookier song that references a mysterious, psychological love with devil. The second side of the album has its ups and downs: “Barnacle Beat” doesn’t exactly have a very notable melody, “Wandering Eyes” is a more artistic experimental piece, and “Acid Rain” has a uniquely bouncy, happy tone that makes it stand out and adds variety to the album. Since it’s an indie album, naturally there are some intermittent one-minute random interludes that seem more like soundtracks than songs. Overall, this complete album achieves the atmosphere and sound that I believe the Growlers are trying to create and leaves us feeling refreshed by their uniquely trippy vibe.