Detective “Featuring James Greer of Guided By Voices with Smile Brigade

Detective

Détective is an LA-based garage pop band featuring James Greer (Guided by Voices) Guylaine Vivarat (Useless Keys) and
Chris Dunn

Named after the Jean-Luc Godard film, Los-Angeles based indierock outfit Détective was initially conceived as a studio project by James Greer, former member of Guided By Voices, and Guylaine Vivarat, a long-time member of the LA music scene (Useless Keys, Tennis System, 2 Hearts & Chemicals).  

Smile Brigade

Smile Brigade is a Lite-Blue collared Democracy. They have been making things happen all along the west coast for decades now. The music is a refreshing mixture of light and dark shades. Calvin Johnson (Beat Happening, K records, Dub narcotic sound-system) guest-sings on "DYCHO?" track "Rims on The Bus" adding "little baby christ die" as a logical lyrical improv to a track that, in a very elementary way, takes on difficult adult themes such as a human's thirst for oil, sending children to war and inflating gas prices. As a whole, the album is not overtly political but lyrically provokes thought from those with a thirst for true blood.

"Do You Come Here Often?" has a lushness and familiarity that belies the simplicity and originality of the compositions. It draws from influences as disparate as John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band all the way down the line to Magnetic Fields with a vigorous dash of 60z "beat" groups for good measure.

Smile Brigade is into simplicity; a strong melody, a good hook and the knack for putting it all together.