Aggressive post-punk squall — dense, distorted, and claustrophobic. Past and present members of THE BROGUES, THE FUSES, and CHARM CITY SUICIDES (Vermin Scum Records) exploring a stripped down approach to the guitar-bass-drums formula and delivering 11 songs in 22 frantic minutes. Over the past two years, THE MISS have honed a unique sound combining the emotional detachment and wavering sonics of THE FALL with the muscular delivery and dramatic vocal performances of THE JESUS LIZARD. Vocalist Hank Baker dominates the proceedings with the belicose holler of a Baptist preacher or carnival barker that commands the attention of the the listener within the first three seconds of the grinding opening track, “French New Wave.” This is truly music for music’s sake - direct, immediate blasts trimmed of unecessary fat and hipster trappings.
"A really good CD from a Baltimore band that I had really never heard of before... Turned me on to them in a big way. THE MISS give you some noisy alternative post punk that has an edge that gives off a wall of noise like FLIPPER, NO TREND, JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION and SPEEDBALL BABY." – Toxic Flier Fanzine #33
"The biggest (and most complimentary) point of reference here is the early work of THE FALL. The aggressive, post-punk, mind blowing veracity of Mark E. Smith and Co. (circa mid-eighties)*, are matched and then surpassed, thanks to the other point of reference I give here – the work of the MINUTEMEN. You may have seen that name dropped by every other punk band for the last 15 years, and although the plentiful praise is deserved, what band actually backs it up with their sound? Counting THE MISS, I think just one... 'No Radio' starts off with the super wake-up call 'French New Wave' and doesn’t end until 22 blistering minutes later. Although one would file production values here under 'simple', it really works brilliantly... If THE MISS were trying to create a solid blast of rock, they succeeded." – Now Wave Webzine
More like it. This is more like it. MORE like it please.Morphius. FUCKING WITH ME. In major ways. Im minor ways. my love/hate relationship with this label is wearing me out. I cant keep up. They fuck up, they redeem themselves. They fuck a bit more with me, then redeem themselves again. Dammit. These fuckers are doing it to me exactly how I would do it to others. Except I would have NOTHING to do with the fucking UK Subs.... The Miss. This is a side-project I suppose featuring members of The Fuses and a band I know only by name, The Charm City Suicides. This CD really floored me in more ways than one. I have listened to it and listened to it, loving every moment. Every note. Clocking in at under 23 minutes, this CD has gotten quite the few turns on the ol‚ CD player. I can hear some of that Fuses shining through but at the same time I can also hear a bit of Les Savy fav too... This is some good shit. Total Lewis & Clark. This is the sort of thing I want to find in my post office box. Not more BORING shit. N E O T E R I C . Yeah, it is. This shit is new fresh and exciting to my ears. Totally undefinable too. So, I define the undefinable. Its sounds like these fuckers stepped into a studio and proceeded to do everything they could think of musically and this time it was one of those rare occasions where they could do no wrong. No rules, everything fits.... As the strip malls go up in record time at record speed. Overnight it seems, asphalt has no time to wear out. Trips are combined under this Smog Alert and everyone is waiting for the mass transit for SOME mass transit. Mass this. Mass that. The Miss are inspiring.... The sound of expanding suburban waste. The smell of new drugstores: The Miss. Redirected creeks: The Miss. Redesigned supermarkets: The Miss. I see them as well as hear them. This Œdevelopment‚ stuff isn‚t as scary as it sounds. Its really exciting. Something new every day-every other day. BOOM! record time. I take your time and bend it! BEND IT! I SAID BEND IT. Double yellow lines and my feet hurt worse than a soldiers. BOOM! I didn‚t notice THAT before.... BOOM! Nor that.... BOOM! Hey... BOOM! "There are snakes on this slide..." BOOM! The Miss. ssssssssss SSSSSSSSSSS ssssss SSSSSS *boom* (SAB) – Blankgeneration.com
"The debut recording by THE MISS proves to be one of the most challenging listens in recent memory…This record features startling song crafting, which is only paralleled by the band’s ardent ear for tonality. Whereas most bands lay claim to a wide span of musical influences that cram their record collections, THE MISS brings to the table a sensible interpretation and reworking of decades of rock/ punk/indie style… Brilliant work, lads."
– Kevin Lundahl, Raised Off The Radio
New band from Baltimore. 11 songs, 23 minutes. Expectations: low. Album cover: black and white photo of an old 50's era living room behemoth console radio, for some reason invoking memories of Slint's first album, Tweez, with its equally bare photo of a vintage Saab. Expectations still low. Press play. Aural onslaught ensues. Pile driving bass (hello Jesus Lizard), edgy guitar attack, unsentimental vocals yes, instant transportation into the breathless realm of the pure two minute punk rock song form. Sure, hardcore punk songs are usually short and aggressive, but The Miss are not a hardcore band, Instead they partake more of the ratified air of Wire's Pink Flag and Buzz or Howl under the Influence of Heat by the Minutemen. Filler? Nope. Guitar solos? Hardly. Full-fledged complex songs that leave you just in time for you to wish they'd go on forever, followed by another song something differentòthat has the same effect. 23 minutes is far too short. I want more. Much much more. I hit play again.And again. All summer long. I do not listen to albums over and over what has gotten into me? This record is that good. (Best Tracks: „French New Wave," "Foot& Mouth Infection," "Reflex.")
–Nassau Weekly
The Miss No Radio Whatever you want to call it punk, post punk, guitar rock, whatever this is the best rock CID by a new band that I've reviewed in quite some time. The Miss are from Baltimore, and the guys have been/are in some other bands (The Brogues, The Fuses, Charm City Suicides). Nothing original here in terms of sound or instrumentation, but the songs are consistently edgy, hard hitting, and memorable. Four touchstones come to mind: Minutemen (short, catchy, intense punk from guys who can really play), Sunshine, Jesus Lizard, and the German band Blumfeld (when they rock).
–WPRB Program Guide
