By Juan Zambrano
DIY punk outfit The Midwife Crisis restock shop on their latest single Jackson Pollock’s Pharmacy. A vibrant, rocking jingle for those of us whose lives are far from well adjusted.
Sunny is the atmosphere throughout Jackson Pollock’s Pharmacy. The duet between jogging pop-punk guitar riffs and marching drums lead the charge with the occasional synthesizer accompaniment. The duet starts off as mellow as punk can get before reaching maximum energy at the song’s chorus. Midwife Crisis mastermind Andrew ‘Crisis’ Lisson rounds things out with a passionate vocal performance that demands listeners pump their fists. Even as the words he’s singing suggest the exact opposite reaction.
Even a perfunctory glance at the lyrics for Jackson Pollock’s Pharmacy reveals a life in disarray. The song’s protagonist is an individual who spends their days in bed, neglecting their living space and sustaining themselves on ramen, alcohol, and scraps. Such a vivid image of a life in shambles should invoke pity from listeners and yet they do anything but.
Jackson Pollock’s Pharmacy is cathartic in its vibrancy. Pairing pity evoking lyrics with sunny instrumentation and energetic vocals ultimately lends the words a new context. No longer the thoughts of someone bemoaning their mess but rather embracing it and inviting others to do the same.
This is what makes Jackson Pollock’s Pharmacy the modern jingle for a messy life. Never has such a chaotic existence sounded so inviting.
Jackson Pollock’s Pharmacy is the latest single The Midwife Crisis’ EP Assorted Donuts. The single is a full band rerecording of a song frontman Andrew ‘Crisis’ Lisson recorded solo under the Midwife Crisis banner.
The solo version leaned more towards folk punk with an acoustic guitar as the dominant instrument. While not without its charm, the full punk arrangement takes Jackson Pollock’s Pharmacy to a new level.
The Midwife Crisis will follow the Assorted Donuts EP with a full-length album on February 26. The album is set to continue in the band’s current DIY punk direction. If tracks like Jackson Pollock’s Pharmacy are any indication, then fans should be in capable hands.
