Katie Von Schleicher: “Shitty Hits” Review / April Show
Katie Von Schleicher’s debut full length record Shitty Hits is neither shitty nor is it full of “hits” (at least in the sense of what constitutes a “hit” which I struggle to even define anymore). It is, however, an awesome record full of songs that I am convinced could become hits if it reached the right listeners. The kind of listeners whom appreciate pop sensibility mixed with curveball tendencies. The kind that like a bit of melancholy and sobering introspection alongside their buoyant singalongs.
Judging by the successes of folks like, for example Angel Olsen or Courtney Barnett, there are plenty of these kinds of listeners – certainly enough to make Shitty Hits a hit.
Von Schleicher describes her sound as referencing both Paul McCartney’s sound on McCartney (his 1970 home-recorded solo debut) as well as Jeff Buckley’s Sketches For My Sweetheart The Drunk, overall comparing them to the “sunny radio burners of the 1970’s, songs you drive to, carefree, and songs you can cry to.”
She got her start just a few years back as an intern for Ba Da Bing Records while also performing as a member of Brooklyn indie rock quartet Wilder Maker. The story goes that she was given a chance to create a record for the label and thus she delivered her first recording, a home recorded mini-record entitled Bleaksploitation. It must have done the trick as Von Schleicher, in partnership with Ba Da Bing, has followed up since with Hits as well as her most recent work, 7″ single Glad to Be Here.
Von Schleicher will be visiting the Twin Cities later this month, performing at Moon Palace Books on 4/29 (info /tix). Should be a rare opportunity to see an artist in an intimate setting prior to what could be a meteoric rise to indie stardom. So come down and hear the hits before they are hits and come early for Bathtub Cig who are also excellent!
You can stream Shitty Hits below and/or order it (and Von Schleicher’s other work) here or better yet come to the show and buy in person.
— Jon
