After the End
This post-punk crew has been a familiar presence on Florida's DIY scene for years, but on its first release with a bigtime record label, you'd hardly recognize Merchandise as the band that was playing ferocious shows in storage units just a few years back. Crescendoing tracks like "True Monument" sound positively lush – at least if you ignore the dopey lyrics about "the cruelty of kindness" and other clichés. Still, some songs, like "Little Killer," maintain the basement-party vibe of the band's earlier work while adding a fresh polish; the heartfelt, musically adventurous "Looking Glass Waltz" stands out as a highlight, save for an odd accordion that might have been best left in storage.