New collection Smiling, Laughing more than justifies this desire for longevity. A new collection featuring thirteen tracks; some odds-and-ends, a handful of sketches, a few stand-alone tracks. Don’t simply brush it off as filler though; the album was carefully collated and thought-over, designed to be listened to as one piece – and, most importantly, it works tremendously.
It was released with little fanfare as a name-your-price download via Bandcamp, and that such inconspicuousness can lead to an offering as endearing as this is testament to the bands way with words and sound. Lead track ‘Misery Loves Company‘ radiates the kind of warmth you need from an opener; buzzing and humming its way through four sumptuously Autumnal minutes, it already feels ingrained in the very fibre of the season that I’m barely able to listen to anything else at the moment.
But I do, and you should, because the rest of the record offers up a number of moments just as rewarding. From the hazy jangle found on ‘Bug Out‘ and ‘Sinking Feeling‘ to the more melancholic offerings such as ‘I Kept Your Teeth In A Jar By My Bed‘ and ‘I Wish I Knew How To Fall Out Of Love‘ it’s a timely reminder that sometimes the best bands are right there under your nose. And let it be said that Gorgeous Bully smell better than most.
The Fat Angel Sings 