The sophomore EP ‘Smoked’ by Washington DC’s tinnitus transmitting twosome, Teen Mortgage is raw energy packaged using attention-grabbing guitar riffs, powerful vocals and captivating melodies. Urgent, loud and angsty, the EP represents the duo and their potential to make music that is unapologetic and wholly captures what they stand for. Consisting of 5 tracks that run for roughly 15 minutes, ‘Smoked’ is a project that will surely have you appreciating the surf punk music that is characterized by its power.
Teen Mortgage consists of James Guile on guitars and vocals, and Ed Barakauskas on drums. The two met through a Craigslist ad and have quickly worked towards building a reputation for themselves. Having performed for the likes of Ron Gallo, The Coathangers, Jeff the Brotherhood and Mike Krol, among others, their regional reputation has continued to grow as they stay true to their unique identity. It is an interesting mixture of stoner rock, surf punk and hardcore that come together to form music that represents melodic chaos. After releasing their debut EP ‘Life/Death’ in June 2019, which has gained positive recognition, they have managed to follow it up with a phenomenal project that builds on that identity.
‘Smoked’ is an EP that consists of 5 tracks namely – Shangri La, Smoked, Ghost Girl, Can I Live and Valley. Each track stands out individually as an anthemic inclusion with great energy. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that these, when performed live, would be an absolute treat to experience for any audience. There is a resemblance that can be found with classic punk sounds that emphasize loud instruments, and the guitar riffs and drumming throughout the EP really stands out by making sure that the zeal never fades right from the first minute to the last.
According to the band, the title track ‘Smoked’ is “an anthem dedicated to the escape from angst and our mundane society that skateboarding gifts you.” In skateboarding culture, “smoked” means to fall and slam hard into the ground whenever you try to do a trick, and since Guile is an avid skater, he was able to draw parallels with the human experience of the pandemic. The EP was a means to escape after the pandemic “slammed” Americans, and you can hear those emotions being channeled into the music.
Vivid and energetic, Teen Mortgage delivers five songs that are stunning to experience. Brilliant distortion, impeccable instrumental sounds and fitting vocals create the kind of noise that draws out the pent-up anger and angst inside you. Liberating in that sense, there is a lot to be excited for when it comes to the duo, who have clearly found their niche within the genre, crafting a unique identity which makes them stand out from the rest.