The Peel Sessions
Local indie rockers Peel‘s self-titled debut, released April 3 on Peek-a-Boo Records (see the Chronicle review here), is drawing high praise. “Our obsession with Austin bands continues,” remarked Dallas blog Gorilla vs. Bear in February, likening the album to Pavement and the Apples in Stereo. Most of the album is the 2-year-old ensemble’s demo that Peel was ready to self-release but re-recorded when Peek-a-Boo owner Travis Higdon signed them. “We went back and did it all at once, so it would sound cohesive,” notes singer/guitarist Dakota Smith. “Or as cohesive as we can sound.” Peel formed in typical Austin fashion: Smith met the original drummer, who has since left the band, at a make-up store (“I was trying on eye shadow”), and they found their bass player on CraigsList. Their blend of electro smoothness and loose-knit jamming mirrors Smith’s summary of Peel’s creative process: “We don’t always sing on the songs we write chords to,” he says. “It’s a very collaborative process, sometimes competitively collaborative, because you’re trying to get lyrics and vocal melody to an instrumental part before somebody else does.” Peel plays Friday at Beerland.
This article appears in April 6 • 2007.