OVIPOSITOR
Pirate Flag at Half-Mast
(2007: self-released)

I don’t dislike Ovipostitor, I just feel kind of cheated listening to their album Pirate Flag at Half-Mast. Had I never heard of The Fall, Buzzcocks, Pavement, Beulah, or Sonic Youth, I would absolutely love them.

The problem I have with Ovipositor is that instead of taking cues from their influences to build something of their own they  come out sounding like little more than a tribute to their favorite bands on Pirate Flag. The album’s second track, "Dinker Dance," could also be titled "I Love Slanted & Enchanted,” while the album’s fifth track, "Ronnie & Chad," sounds like a lot of your favorite Fall songs all mashed together (musically, that is). Lyrically, an odd, even slightly contrived-sounding story is woven throughout Pirate Flag, leaving me wishing the band wouldn't try so hard to be quirky.

I spent the entire time that I listened to this record going, "Oh my god, what
song is that? I know I've heard it before… It sounds just like..." I actually wasn't able to give the songs my full, undivided attention because I was too busy trying to think of what songs by other artists Ovipositor’s songs sound like. 

Had this band been billed as an homage to Indie and Punk Rock's pioneers, I would have given the record an 8 out of 10. For, to be fair, the songs on Pirate Flag aren't bad – they are a good listen. It's just that you've heard them before, and a few times over at that.

I would like to add, though, that I'll bet Ovipositor put on a great live show.

[Jen Chochinov]

[STREAM] Ovipositor: “Duck is Down”