#clifffs

Malham Cove von Arthur Streeton

CLIFFFS - Manatee

Texas based garage rock threesome CLIFFFS have just released their second album, Panic Attack, released on the 14th February 2020, via State Fair Records and We Know Better Records. The video stars frontman John’s nephews, Nate (as bassist Andy), Gray (acting as John), and their friends identical twins Adam and Ryan Stuecheli (as drummer Bill). Gonna post some more video from the album below. CLIFFFS are frontman and guitarist John Dufilho, Andy Lester on the bass & vocals and Bill Spellman on the drums & vocals.

Undone Video

You Are Freaking Out Audio Video

ALBUM REVIEW: CLIFFFS – Panic Attack

BEST TRACKS: You Are Freaking Out, Panic Attack, Tilt

FCC Clean

CLIFFFS is a lively three-piece band from Dallas, Texas that brings an unparalleled sense of purity to the scene, taking garage punk back to its roots. I love three-piece bands for their simplicity. A guitar, a bass, and drums are all anyone really needs to make an astounding punk album. Four years ago, CLIFFFS released Bill, You’re Only Human, an album about which there is very little to complain about, to say the least, except that it lacked the element of passion and fury I seek in a punk album. What CLIFFFS’ debut album lacked, their sophomore album, Panic Attack, has in abundance. Panic attack shows the immense growth of the band over 4 years and leaves me eagerly awaiting to see what CLIFFFS has in store next.

Panic Attack exhibits fast, slightly surf rock-esque guitar riffs and solid, grounding baselines. The fourth track, ‘You Are Freaking Out’ is my favorite, sounding dark and urgent. The rises and falls of intensity in this song are masterful, starting out with a nervous, anticipatory riff that then gets propelled into a cathartic climax by thrashing drums and elevated vocals. Other tracks, such as ‘Tilt’ and ‘Life’ are less dark, having brighter melodies, and are truer to the legacies of the OG garage punk gods like Descendants and All. Punk albums have a bad habit of sounding messy and unpolished. Panic Attack is a punk album that is very cleanly put together and puts a focus on melody, making the music sound passionate, powerful, and beautiful- not just loud and noisy.

A common theme throughout this album is anxiety, as the album title might suggest. True to this theme, Panic Attack fills me up with nervous energy (in only the best way). This short, 13 track, 24 minute album makes me want to get out of the house and shred some asphalt- the sign of a truly excellent punk album.

I recommend CLIFFFS if you like bands like Descendants, All, the Frights, and the Orwells.

1. THE NEEDS "You Need The Needs" - Jansen 2. STICKY FINGERS "Yours To Keep" - Sureshaker 3. DAYGLOW "Fuzzybrain" - Self-Released 4. ELVIS COSTELLO AND THE IMPOSTERS "Look Now" - Concord   5. DAVID BOWIE "Nuts" [Single] - Parlophone 6. SPOON "Is This The Last Time" [Single] - Matador 7. FLYING LOTUS "Flamagra" - Warp 8. THE BEATLES "Abbey Road (2019 Mix)" - UMC 9. HOLLIE COOK "Dance In The Sunshine" [Single] - Merge 10. LCD SOUNDSYSTEM "Electric Lady Sessions" - Columbia 11. ARTHUR RUSSELL "Iowa Dream" - Audika 12. DINOSAUR JR. "Green Mind (Expanded & Remastered) - Cherry Red 13. SAM COOKE "Night Beat" - RCA 14. BECK "Hyperspace" - Capitol 15. BLOOD ORANGE "Angel's Pulse" - Domino 16. JR JR "Invocations/Conversations" - Love Is EZ 17. LETTUCE "Elevate" - Regime Group 18. MODEST MOUSE "Ice Cream Party" [Single] - Epic 19. PRINCE "1999" (Deluxe Edition) - Warner Bros 20. MGMT "In The Afternoon" [Single] - Epic 21. AL GREEN "The Hi Records Singles Collection" - Fat Possum 22. THE REPLACEMENTS "Dead Man's Pop" [Advanced Tracks] - Rhino 23. FOALS "Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 2" - Warner Bros. 24. NEON INDIAN "Toyota Man" [Single] - Mom+Pop 25. GORILLAZ "Song Machine Episode 1" - Parlophone 26.  SAINTSENECA "Winter Breaking" [Single] - Anti 27. THE KINKS "Arthur" [2019 Deluxe] - Sanctuary 28. BOARDS OF CANADA "Peel Session" [Advanced Tracks] - Warp 29. MARVIN GAYE "You're The Man" - UMG 30. SUPERCHUNK "Acoustic Foolish" - Merge

Videos of the Day…Volcano and Earthquakes and Hurricanes by Clifffs

John Dufillho is a busy guy. Not only is he the drummer with The Apples in Stereo, but the multi-instrumentalist is also the lead hand in garage rockers The Deathray Davies and now he’s handling guitar and vocals with a new project: CLIFFFS.

CLIFFFS play catchy hooked filled power punk and their debut album “Bill, You’re Only Human” is set for release June 11th from Custom Made Music.

Here’s the…