Francie Moon - What Are We Really Even Doing? LP

Francie Moon is a New Jersey garage rock staple, and their latest album is a prime example of why that’s true. What Are We Really Even Doing?, which came out this week on Halfshell Records, is a blazing mix of fierce psychedelic rock and riotous surf punk. Elements of The Ventures, Shannon and The Clams and fellow New Jerseyans, the great Screaming Females, can be picked up here and there across this multifaceted album. For a trio, the band packs a very thick and powerful sound. While drummer Richie Samartin and bassist Adam Pumilia bust their instruments to pieces just to hold down the rhythm, Melissa Lucciola’s stunning siren-like vocals punch you right in the face. It’s often like she’s singing straight through a megaphone as she cuts loose and shreds like a demon.