This week, our podcast spotlights Excuses for Skipping, a San Francisco indie rock quartet whose 2007 debut Out of Work Early has earned them a bevy of strong reviews for its mix of spacey experimental elements and thick soaring melodies. The album showcases a strong control of both dynamics and layering, as the band can use powerful stacked vocal harmonies and guitars just as well as it can deconstruct those textures into compelling moody pieces. It’s catchy, dense rock with strong moments spread liberally throughout.

As we learned during our interview with the group, that seemingly familiar but unplaceable atmospheric rock sound comes from a willingness to experiment with styles drawn from their diverse musical backgrounds and frequently inspired by their other artistic interests. While the band arises out of something of a songwriting experiment for guitarists Tammy and Linda, the addition of bassist Wendy and drummer Allison have added a dancier feel now reflected in the band’s frequent and well-received live shows at local clubs, house parties, and street festivals.

In addition to an interview we conducted several weeks back with Tammy, Linda, and Wendy, the episode includes four songs from the band’s debut album.

Upcoming Shows:

Friday, August 29th
Bottom Of The Hill
with Vin Rouge and The New Up
10pm, $10

Wednesday, September 24th
Hotel Utah
with The Bruises, The Shondes and Forever
9pm, $7

Links:

– Visit Excuses for Skipping’s MySpace page and web site

– Watch the video for “Decision to be Normal” on YouTube

– Purchase Out of Work Early on iTunes or from CDBaby

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