It's Real by Ex Hex

Rips, the modestly perfect debut record of rock and roll lifer Mary Timony’s band Ex Hex, was characterized by an absolute economy of production. It had the DNA of classic rock, but its attitude was pure punk. Accusing Rips of mere nostalgia peddling missed the point; it pulled the same stunt with 80’s arena rock that the Ramones pulled with 50’s teenybop pop: strip it down, speed it up. Same great taste, no fat. By contrast, the songs on Ex Hex’s follow-up, It’s Real, are heavier, louder, and nearer in spirit to the self-indulgent AOR hits that inspired them, but they fall short of their arena sized aspirations. 

Ex Hex is back! It's been a while, but the power trio is back with their sophomore album It's Real. Listen to the amazing "Cosmic Cave" now at digital services and pre-order the album on digital, CD, LP, and Peak Vinyl. The latter is pressed on limited-edition “rainbow shiner” (magenta and blue swirl) vinyl and it's only available from the Merge Store or independent record stores. http://smarturl.it/ItsReal

The band will traverse North America in the spring and head to the U.K. in late May. Check the schedule ⬇︎

REASONS TO COME EARLY: Ex Hex

With such a rich history of punk music and jazz pioneers, Washington, D.C. has naturally bred local artists making big impressions on national music scenes. Big names who were born and raised in D.C. spread across the U.S. like wildfire: Duke Ellington, Bad Brains, and Ginuwine, to name a few. However, D.C. has to compete with a handful of other major cities, like New York City, Chicago, and L.A., that produce incredible artists regularly, which sometimes causes the D.C. music scene to slip under the radar. Luckily, in 2014, Ex Hex appeared from the basements of our nation’s capital to make some new, much-needed noise.

Ex Hex is a staple in an ever-growing line of female rock bands among the likes of Bikini Kill, Sleater-Kinney, and The Courtneys. As a matter of fact, frontwoman Mary Timony has fronted other successful bands like Helium and been in other groups with rock music greats like Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss of Sleater-Kinney. Add on drummer Laura Harris of The Aquarium and bassist Betsy Wright, and we’ve got the garage-pop trio of our dreams. All three of them are local to the D.C area.

Moods and daydreams are often side-effects of listening to a good album, and upon my first listen of Ex Hex’s first 2014 LP, Rips, I’m tumbling around and yelling in a crowded, vintage, red convertible on a beachside highway. Specific, yes, but the bright guitar and driving rhythm are undeniable. The opening song of the album, “Don’t Wanna Lose,” sets the perfect, sun-drenched tone for the album with wobbly, one-stroke power chords. The chorus is catchy and quick; “I don’t wanna lose your love / It’s in my hand, it’s just a question of / If you’re gonna stop messing around / You better hurry up, don’t let me down.” Another hit off the album called “Hot and Cold” is a testament to inconsistent and blurry relationships, and showcases some of Timony’s incredible guitar talent. With guitar licks throughout the song and a strong, classic rock ‘n’ roll guitar solo about a minute in, “Hot and Cold” demonstrates how all you need is some Timony guitar work to get you going. Their song “Outro” is the perfect way to end the album, as Timony belts out in her perfectly whiney-yet-deep vocals, “Take care, don’t beware / Follow the sound.” Throughout this album, Ex Hex does an impressive job of embodying classic beach and garage rock tropes while still making it their own; a raw, hot-tempered band with a sunny, vintage sound.

Now a staple in the D.C. music scene, Ex Hex is a band worth following. They have starpower of all forms: in their music, in their lyrics, and in their relationship with their hometown. So, what’s better than seeing them this summer at the legendary music venue Merriweather Post Pavillion, local to the D.C. area? Close to nothing. You don’t wanna lose this opportunity.

-Beth Townsend