Holy Shit! I just had one of the more enjoyable 6 minutes alone that I have ever spent. I finished listening to Be Your Own Pet’s EP “Get Damaged” and it was sweet. This group clearly was influenced by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs! And there is nothing wrong with that. For 6 minutes I found myself smiling in my cubicle, and really enjoying what I was listening to.
The first song on this EP, “Becky” is one of the best songs I have heard this year. Bold statement, but you really need to listen to this song. It covers genres and tells a hilariously awful story. Starting with an old 1960’s style surf riff I really had no idea what was going to come out when the song began. Then I was treated to lyrics that could probably be heard at any high school on any given day. I have been singing this song to myself since I first listened to it, one line in particular stood out. “Now give me back all the clothes you borrowed / Don’t give me bullshit bring them to school tomorrow.” Pure genius. This is the twisted story of a high school friendship that ends in murder and being locked up. Great lyrics, incredible music, just an overall fantastic song. If you have heard this song and don’t like it, good luck in life.
There is clearly a let down from “Becky” to the next two songs, but both of them hold merit. The first, “Black Hole” sounds like early No Doubt but with a much more bad-ass attitude. The lyrics are simple but entertaining, one line, “Eating pizza is really great / so is destroying everything you hate,” seems to sum things up for this song. There is an absolute entertainment value, and given the opportunity I would love to see what kind of concert Be Your Own Pet could put on. The final song, “Blow Yr Mind” is your standard garage punk three chord progression played fast and loud. It was interesting to see the variety in the three songs that Be Your Own Pet chose, so I can see why “Blow Yr Mind” was included.
Seriously, find a way to listen to “Becky” and take it in. It is such great storytelling lyrically and the music only improves the overall feel. Take 6 minutes, tune into this EP, and be prepared to spend some extra time afterwards. You will want to listen to it again.