The Drool Brothers: "Mondo Electra" (2023) CD Review

In December, Drool Brothers released a great new album titled Psychology. That album followed the group's 2023 release, Mondo Electra, a six-song EP. As with the new album, this EP contains all original material, written by Chuck Mancillas. Unlike the new album, for this release the group was a trio. Natalie Mancillas hadn't yet joined the band (though she does sing on one track). At this point, the band was made up of Chuck Mancillas on lead vocals, synthesizers, guitar and drums; Tom Slik on bass and backing vocals; and Dan Marfisi on organ, bongos, percussion and backing vocals.

"All I want is a quiet vacation," Chuck Mancillas sings at the beginning of the disc's first track, "Quiet Vacation," speaking for all of us, I suppose. I think we all want to get away. From the news, from this country, from this reality. And he promises himself, "I'll bring some medication/Little high on the recreation." Yup, that's necessary, for sure. The "ba ba-ba ba" backing vocals have something of a 1960s thing happening, and there are some cool, psychedelic elements too. And the very end seems to contain a nod to "Gloria," a song the group's "Freak Out" (a track on the new album) also reminds me of at one point. "I will be in isolation/California is my destination." "Get Drunk Talk Shit" seems to pick up something of that "Gloria" rhythm too, as they repeat, "Get drunk, talk shit/Get drunk, talk shit." Then the verses have more of a pop appeal. "You don't hear a word I say/But you just keep on talking." And there is some really nice guitar work, particularly toward the end.

"We won't follow protocol," Chuck sings at the beginning of "Underground." A good first line, with a punk attitude, helping to establish the tone, the vibe. There is a harder edge to this song, except on its title line. That's when the song has more of a pop feel. There has always been something appealing about underground music, underground journals and the like. These days, with the internet, it might not be quite as clear what classifies as underground, but no matter. Check out your local scene, support your local artists. That's where most of the real action is. And who doesn't want to step away from the mainstream world these days anyway? That's followed by "Sophisticated Twist," a playful number, particularly in the vocal approach. If you dig Devo, you'll probably love this. It's a whole lot of fun, totally catchy, and suddenly over. This track is less than two minutes long.

"Maybe" is another unusual song. You might not think it at the beginning, that guitar seeming to promise a more conventional rock number. And, sure, there is a bit of that in this track, but there are other things at work here, including a varied vocal performance that keeps us engaged. "What did you mean when you said/I don't know, maybe." It's a song that asks for a little clarification. Is that too much to ask? There is certainly something playful too. "The echoes laugh and cry/Haunting endlessly/A third grade spelling word is testing me." There is a cool, fuzzy guitar lead toward the end of the track. The EP then concludes with its title track, "Mondo Electra," and it is this song that features Natalie Mancillas on vocals. It is another fun one, a dance song, with some cool stuff on drums. This song feels like a weird sort of party, one foot in the 1960s, one foot in some electronic realm. But that is what this group is so damned good at doing.

CD Track List

1. Quiet Vacation
2. Get Drunk Talk Shit
3. Underground
4. Sophisticated Twist
5. Maybe
6. Mondo Electra

Mondo Electra was released on September 20, 2023.