If this was played without any preface, you may assume this to be by The Smiths or Echo and the Bunnymen, some obscure b-side you somehow missed. This is exactly where Florida-based trio Merchandise succeeds — in their absolute irreverence to their musical forbearers, that they would so brazenly wear their influences on their sleeves. Even more than the harmonica-laden opener “Who Are You?,” I defy you to deny the inner-Morrissey that their singer channels on “Anxiety’s Door.” But that is definitely not all that defines Merchandise, as Totale Nite proves to be more than just the sum total of its constituent influences. Instead, the band proudly acknowledge where they are from as a reference point for where they might want to go, building upon pre-existing rock tropes to create something fresh, if not wholly original.
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