 
Imagine a Tim Burton film soundtrack on speed. . . this is the world of Chicago's ZZZZ. Constructed around ricocheting female and male vocals, the group marries amplified alto sax, fretless bass, electric piano, and drums to create melodic oddities that drift amongst the outer peripheries of piano concertos, gypsy brass, and no-wave dance parties. Their debut features ex-members of Sweep The Leg Johnny, Swing Kids, and Tekulvi. Kicking off an album with a song entitled “Assassination Polka,” how could they ever go wrong? I can only imagine the visual delight they must be live. “Bandit King & Queen” echoes the heyday of Squirrel Nut Zippers/Combustible Edison at times, the sax ensuring the slithery progression of the track through “all I want to do is touch your thigh-line. . .” Genius. When I first saw the cover of Palm Reader, I imagined a grown-up to teen transformation skewed version of the film “Big.” Imagine being able to go back to your mid-to late teen years with all the useless information you have gathered as an adult, the possibilities are endless. . .such are the promises of ZZZZ. An inescapable energy vibrates throughout this album, tasty bites of the after-post-punkiness that can be found in the Rogers Sisters, and at the darker end of the spectrum, the Vanishing. Not for the timid or faint hearted. -- DA Johnston
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