MAKEOUT PARTY, THEE - Play Pretend (LP)

I've always been attracted to OC punk, although in its supposed "hey day" there was some pretty retarded shit goin' on. In 1986, I remember speed walking outta Fenders Ballroom while D.I. was playing cos I saw some dude with a knife dangling from his back and didn't go to any shows for a year or so. Although it wasnt D.I.'s fault and I actually loved the other OC bands at the time, I feel better about whats goin' on in Orange County nowadays. Bands like Pterodacdudes, Audacity, Drinkers Purgatory, and Thee Makeout Party sound nothing like each other, but share something that I aint even gonna try to explain on the internet! Thee's sound is not unlike the great power-pop that was unleashed by labels like Stiff Records (Wreckless Eric, Nick Lowe) and Posh Boy (Red Cross, the Simpletones) awhile back. This is Thee's debut LP! —T.C.

THEE MAKEOUT PARTY Play Pretend LP-REC112