Skating Polly is Reviving Punk with New Double Album Chaos County Line
Photo by Megan Magdalena
Written by Eli Nava
Formed by stepsisters Kelli Mayo and Peyton Bighorse, later joined by Kurtis Mayo, Skating Polly is establishing themselves as a punk staple with the upcoming release of their double album Chaos County Line. The Tacoma-based band has put together a sound that is uniquely their own, branching out into the subgenres of punk and harnessing the freedom of the genre. Following up from their 2018 album, The Make It All Show, the new double album presents the band in a new, dynamic light that explores their growth lyrically and sonically. Produced by Brad Wood, who has worked with artists such as Liz Phair and Smashing Pumpkins, Chaos County Line is the ultimate punk mosaic album coming just in time for summer head-banging.
The album begins with “Baby,” a powerful track that immediately sets up the intense sound and themes that follow through the rest of the album, which reflects on youth and lingering adolescence. The sound travels to their first single, “Hickey King,” where Kelli and Peyton trade vocals throughout the song, presenting their distinct perspectives on their own relationships. Backed by the sisters’ aching vocals, angsty guitar, and fast drums, the single is perfect for jumping around and letting built-up frustration go—the perfect release. The next track, “Girls Night,” is a song to blast when the sun goes down, with sensual and raw lyrics that discuss sexuality and experimentation.
The next three tracks, “All The Choices,” “Booster Seat,” and “Hush Now,” take a diary-like approach at songwriting, each creating a sort of punk nursery rhyme that thematically fits within the reflection of youth and relationships. “Rabbit Food” transitions to fast, angry, and demanding. The song stands out in spotlighting Kelli’s vocal range, going from whispering and higher-pitched to dipping right back down to low, abrasive growls. Slowing down, “Tiger At The Drugstore” is a sunny day type of track, laced with melodic pianos that would fit within an early 90s film. The next few tracks, such as “Someone Like A Friend,” “Double-Decker,” and “Charlie’s Brother,” showcase the trio’s ability to expand punk into a sensitive, fragile reflection of the past. Taking on themes such as codependency and self-sabotage, these songs offer a softer glance at relationships. Especially “Charlie’s Brother,” which is an acoustic love song wrapped up in yearning accentuated by layered vocals.
Chaos County Line leaves room for this slow yearning but instantly jumps right back into fast and fun energy like a punk-induced mood swing. “Send A Priest” is an intoxicatingly fast, crashing single that leaves no room for the sweetness of previous tracks, instead spitting out aggression and demonstrating the band’s ability to generate a classic punk anthem. Lightening up, the second single off the double album “Sorry For Always Apologizing” is described as bubblegum-punk and reflects on manipulative behavior, once again taking a diary-like approach.
As Chaos County Line nears the end, “Man Out There” is a culmination of the album and is a standout track featuring David Yow, the vocalist of noise-rock bands Scratch Acid and The Jesus Lizard. Together, Skating Polly and Yow create a dynamic, dizzying sound with stretched-out vocals and sinister guitar riffs that creates the perfect noise-rock revival track. The double album comes to an end with “Party House,” including vocals from all members. It is a song about wanting to move on but being restrained to a place, touching on all of the contradicting themes across the album. Chaos County Line marks a definitive moment in punk as Skating Polly revitalizes and breathes life into the genre. Across the 18 tracks, there is sure to be a song for everyone to enjoy and scream along to. You can now pre-order or pre-save Chaos County Line, which comes out June 23rd.
Presave the album