MR077 | Release date 2013
Two song vinyl 7" with a song each from Bad Years & Crooked Roots. Purchase of the vinyl comes with an immediate digital download of either the MP3 or Flac files.
From a review in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette:
So this is a split 7-inch record featuring Bad Years and Crooked Roots, two Little Rock outfits of up-and-coming young guns, and playing it two or three times in a row has become a daily ritual around here.
“Westbound,” the contribution from Bad Years, is a catchy slab of buzz saw punk in the Jawbreaker vein. Michael Pollock’s vocals are righteously bratty and the rest of the band - Joe Pollock, Jakob Hooks and John Wright - pound this mosh pit anthem with authority.
Crooked Roots’ “Lonely Road” starts with Walt Peterson’s bubbling bass line and builds steam until the chorus comes crashing through the door like a herd of wildebeests. It’s a classic quiet-loud-quiet arrangement with raggedly wonderful harmonies from Peterson and guitarist Alden Walters and a theme of wandering, existential alienation.
Both tracks are exceedingly listenable, which is exactly what you need from a good single, and are perfect introductions to Bad Years and Crooked Roots. The 7-inch vinyl version (aka 45), by the way, features a killer sleeve with black-and-white cover art by Little Rock artist Nate Powell.