Cheatahs
Extended Plays
Wichita Recordings [2013]
Fire Note Says: Extended Plays is one of the most exciting debut records in years.
Album Review: Extended Plays, the debut album from Cheatahs, is actually a compilation of two eps that the band released last year, SANS and Coared. If Swervedriver, Ride, and Slowdive are amongst your favorite bands of all-time, as they are for me, then you simply have to get this record as soon as possible. A few years ago, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart were being held up as the torchbearers for a shoegaze revival, and as good as that band is, they never quite captured it like Cheatahs do. This is the closest thing I have heard to early Swervedriver since the first time “Duel” blew my mind through a pair of crappy headphones in college.
“The Swan” has huge guitars, a driving rhythm, and a vocal melody that could have been lifted directly from Ride’s classic Nowhere lp. “Sans” is more of the same, and actually ups the ante. It’s catchier than “The Swan” and is more apt to get stuck in your head. The other two songs from the SANS ep, that comprises the first half of Extended Plays are every bit as good as the first two. The second ep collected on Extended Plays, Coared, was actually released before the SANS ep, so it’s a bit odd that it comes after it on this album, although it doesn’t really matter, as the material is every bit as good as it’s predecessor. The sound quality is just a bit rougher, though not by much, and the two eps flow together remarkably well. “Coared” is another standout track, the hook gets stuck in your brain and refuses to let go.
One thing keeps this record from grabbing the extra coveted half star from me and entering Headphone Approved territory. Extended Plays is less than a half hour in length, and it flys by. I feel like with a bit more experience Cheatahs, could expand their sound to encompass more than just the uptempo side of this music. Historically, the best bands in this genre of music were able to spread out and explore the slower side of this music, let the music get a little spacey, Cheatahs don’t do that yet. Having said that, I fully realize that this record is actually a compilation of two previously released eps, so they weren’t thinking of making a giant artistic statement when they made these records, they were releasing two quick, sharp bursts of creativity, and that’s what it sounds like, and that is not a bad thing at all!
Cheatahs are a band to be excited about, they are currently gearing up for what is shaping up to be the can’t miss tour of the spring, with Waaves and FIDLAR, so go see this show!
Key Tracks: “The Swan”, “Sans”, “Coared”
Artists With Similar Fire: Swervedriver / Ride / Slowdive
Cheatahs Website
Cheatahs Facebook
Wichita Recordings
-Reviewed by Kevin Poindexter
Born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, I am extremely proud of the area I grew up in and the influence it has had on the world at large, from the Wright Brothers to Robert Pollard, the area has been a center of innovation both technologically and artistically. During my college years at the University of Dayton, I found myself becoming more and more immersed in the local music scene, a period of time in the early to mid 90's that coincided with the rise of bands like Guided by Voices, Brainiac, and The Breeders, who added to the rich musical legacy of the area. Dayton is also the hometown of many giants of funk in the 70's and is also the birthplace of Jazz greats Billy Strayhorn, John Scofield and Bud Shank. I wrote extensively for The Fire Note, a great online magazine focused on indie rock, in the 2010's while simultaneously being a partner in Rockathon Records, before retiring from both in 2018. In 2024, my thoughts turned back to helping at Rockathon and more importantly to pick back up on my writing, and more specifically to write about my love of jazz. I'm always listening, always searching for something new, something great. It's been a lifelong journey, and I still feel like there is so much out there to hear.
- Kevin Poindexterhttps://thefirenote.com/author/kpoindexter/
- Kevin Poindexterhttps://thefirenote.com/author/kpoindexter/
- Kevin Poindexterhttps://thefirenote.com/author/kpoindexter/
- Kevin Poindexterhttps://thefirenote.com/author/kpoindexter/
“The Swan” is an amazing song. The rest is pretty good as well.