Rising indie rock sensations Pleasure Pill have released their highly-anticipated debut studio album Hang A Star – showcasing baggy Britpop swagger with indie rock grit via à La Carte Records.
Hang A Star opens with “Favorite Color Gold,” which features dynamic percussion and sharp songwriting. A subconscious response to the downer rock tunes of the last 20 years, it’s clear that Pleasure Pill has their eyes on the prize and wants their listeners to go for the gold alongside them. On the spellbinding song “Don’t Fly Away,” however, the band gets moody and channels the spirit of adolescent wanderlust fueled by jangly guitar chords, entrancing melodies, and introspective lyrics.
Other standout songs that are destined to launch the San Diego band to the stars include the hypnotic anthem “My Way To You,” and the crisp, power-pop track “Line Up The Stars,” which is Pleasure Pill’s take on club meets rock’n’roll.
Pleasure Pill picks up where Brit-pop left off, but this time with better haircuts, and sound designed to entangle you from the very first note. Following in the footsteps of Britpop brother bands of the ‘90s, lead singer Jonah Paz and brother Ethan (rhythm guitar) formed the band in mid-2021 with friends they grew up with in San Diego’s underground scene. Together, they overcame their sibling rivalries and dreamed of big success and world domination, in between skating, going to DIY punk gigs, and putting on shows in their community centers. Within a few years, the band has already captured the attention of tastemakers and media, and received high praise on previous releases including the psych-infused single “Wonder How” and their blazing full-length live album Heaven Can Wait, which was recorded during a buzzy NYC club residency last year. All of this helped the band to quickly build a local following and turn it into national music industry buzz.
They were courted by every major record label, who initially blew hot and then cold when the pandemic hit and fewer chances were taken on bands without a viral social moment to show proof of concept. Undeterred they decided to stay true to their indie roots and wrote songs inspired by British music from the invasion era classic pop to seminal ‘90s bands like Primal Scream and the Stone Roses.
