Just Kidding
Perhaps the most overlooked and underrated band to spring from the grungy Northwest landscape of the late '80s/early '90s, the Treepeople made straightforward rock that was smart, convincing, and able to punch holes through brick walls. Led by the double guitars and vocals of Doug Martsch (now in Built to Spill) and Scott Schmaljohn, the Treepeople hack through 10 songs of tangled, punk-powered guitars and urgent, bruised lyrics onJust Kidding, the band's finest hour. While the production may be somewhat lacking, there is no denying the spark of the band's unique guitar sound and the drive of standout cuts like "In C," "Neil's Down," and "Nod and Blink." A lost treasure.--S. Duda