Athens Quartet's 'Ruin Everything!' Explodes Basements

Athens quartet We Versus the Shark has emerged with a sound characterized by whirring melodic arithmetic, spastic disco-punk, and art-damaged pop. Their debut album, "Ruin Everything!", occupies a unique space, drawing heavily from bands like Dismemberment Plan, Q and Not U, and Les Savy Fav.

These influential bands evolved post-punk by embracing disco and new wave, leading to experimental pop sounds. We Versus the Shark channels this evolutionary ghost, delivering a nervous, twitchy, and hooky dance-punk rave-up. The band's guitar attack is described as angular, full of sharp corners.

"Ruin Everything!" is a flurry of sparkling detail and fragmentary hooks that coalesce into cohesive songs. Tracks like "You Don't Have to Kick It" and "Ten Uh Clock Heart Uh Tack" refuse to sit still. While the album suggests a more mature future for the band, its current form is perfect for energetic basement gatherings, embodying an unfettered debut energy.