Review: Pkew Pkew Pkew – “Open Bar”

Dine Alone – 13 May 2022

A relatable and endearing record brings Pkew Pkew Pkew roaring back after a sophomore slump.

What fascinated me about Pkew Pkew Pkew on their self-titled debut was their micro-focus. One whole track is about ordering a pizza, another is just about someone in their apartment building yelling at them for being too loud at band practice. Their second album had an entire song paying tribute to a crappy motel they stayed at on tour. It reminds me of Seinfeld the way they can write tunes about nothing. On Open Bar, that micro-focus is still there in the likes of “Mr. Meowers” and “Drinking in the Park,” but what’s becoming even more prevalent in their music is a sort of slacker romanticism. Open Bar is wistful, self-deprecating, and it celebrates deeply unhealthy lifestyle choices. But it does all this with enough of a sly wink and nod that it keeps you from taking them too seriously.

We start out with “Let the Bridges We Burn Light the Way,” a bitter and spiteful little ditty that contrasts humorously with the somber tone in the performance. While it may be true that “Mom’s Dime” is basically a Dandy Warhols song and “Maybe Someday” is basically a Menzingers song, don’t even the greatest artists copy each other? It’s also pretty forgivable as the two songs are exceptional imitations and two of the album’s best numbers. 

“Fresh Pope” is one of the weirdest narratives I’ve ever heard in music. It tells a story in which the speaker spends the day playing hooky from work at his girlfriend’s house on the day that a new pope is appointed. He then uses this news as an excuse to throw a party. The last pope was instated almost a full decade ago, so I suspect this story may be fiction, but it’s very fun..

“A Different Jimmy” tells the surprisingly wholesome story of a troubled friend choosing to stop destructive behaviors. Some might call this hypocritical on an album about heavy drinking and drug use that’s titled Open Bar, but I get the impression that this song is one that the band takes a little more seriously than the rest of the record, and it exposes the band’s real values.

Their sophomore effort, Optimal Lifestyles, had a disappointing amount of filler on it. Open Bar, much like the band’s debut, has almost no filler, with a full set of great songs. While Pkew Pkew Pkew are still a little under the radar right now, they shouldn’t be for much longer. The “slacker romanticism” I referenced earlier is likely to have a wide appeal, and their wit and charm are simply undeniable. So raise a beer to Open Bar, if for no other reason than to have an excuse to drink beer.