They may be seasoned road dogs with a seemingly shallow bag of tricks and nugs, but Cali psych-rockers the Growlers still manage to impress with their “beach goth” sound. The video for the uncharacteristically self-reflexive ditty “Not The Man” is no different. The track, off 2014’s Chinese Fountain, reflects the “more grown up, well polished” aspirations that band held for the LP, but the video serves as reassurance that indie rock’s favorite stoners will not be fizzling in a blaze of glory any time soon.
Brooks Nielsen’s charmingly nasally vocals focus on hyper-aware ruminations over the man that he used to be. Nielsen reflects on his wrongdoings unto his friends and family as the quintet’s melodies chime with a curious exoticism. Neilsen continues to spiral into a sun-bleached breakdown, pounding liquor out of snifters, canoodling with a canine pal, and sitting on his couch all (cross-)dressed up with nowhere to go. Poised with a newfound inward focus, but not without their lo-fi schmaltz, the Growlers manage to top themselves yet again.
Watch below.
Chinese Fountain is out now via Everloving Records.
