Local Drags is back with a new album Mess of Everything, due out March 17th on Stardumb Records. Hailing from Springfield, Illinois, these days the band is pretty much Lanny Durbin along with whichever friends are around at the time. Some might know Lanny from his other band Starter Jackets, also featuring Luke McNeill of The Copyrights, who handled production duties on Mess Of Everything.
With this third album, the power pop style of Local Drags’ previous releases has been twisted and cracked into something else with more layered guitars and looser instrumentation. Pulling a little from wider influences such as Summerteeth-era Wilco, as well as Tom Petty, the music finds the band at a different angle. The sharp songwriting has a darker sheen this time around, yet still allows optimism to lead the way. Fans of the first two albums don’t have to worry though: With each song clocking in well under the 3 minute mark, you know the band didn’t lose anything of its straight to the point pop qualities.
Pre-order Mess of Everything on vinyl or CD here (US), here (EU), or here (Australia).