Album Review- Mystic Braves - Pacific Afterglow (2022)

2014’s Desert Island could truly be a Desert Island disc. Though the alternative press wasn’t pushing a Garage Rock revival like they had a decade before, there definitely was one with The Mystic Braves joining the Allah Las, Tijuana Panthers and The Growlers as the newest era of garage rock (with surf and psychedelic overtones). Mystic Braves tend to be closer to the slick production of the Allah Las than the rough and tumble Growlers. What is of interest is that generally garage nostalgia bands dig into a time frame, say 1965 and make a dozen albums that sound like 1965. The career of the Braves seems to not follow that and strangely they seem to be growing as if they existed at that time. Did I confuse you? What I mean is Desert Island sounds out of the mid 60s, but the next album -Days of Yesteryear- aped late 60s sounds instead of staying in the same spot. Almost a decade after Desert Island, the band sounds a decade later. The garage aesthetics are replaced on 2022’s Pacific Afterglow with early 70s AM Rock beach vibes. What does that mean to the listener? Well, whether you lived or hated the band on Desert Island, there are only enough traces here that tie it back. In interviews, the band is citing the otherwise unexpected influence of Gerry Rafferty. There are times the Allah Las have gone in that direction, but it’s an unlikely muse for a garage rock band. I don’t mean this to be rude, but I don’t expect this record to be picked up and reviewed by many, and to be praised, hardly at all. But I really dig the uniqueness and will not be surprised if it shows on my Year End Best.