Charts, Break (Curly Cassettes)

A surf-pop getaway you've visited many times before.

[SURF ROCK] Charts make it pretty clear what they're up to on their debut full-length, Break. Palm trees adorn the album cover. One song is called "Fake Vacation." Plus, they make sure to inform you on their Bandcamp that although they've waited until the dead of winter for the release, the album was actually recorded live two summers ago. With all those signifiers, Break delivers the kind of riotous surf pop you'd expect. Michael Rowan, who writes all the songs, sings in a reverb-soaked, faraway voice, and the rhythm section chugs along with danceable beats. Despite the fact that Charts have no ambition to reinvent the genre (why should they?), they don't hesitate to mix up the formula now and again, throwing in some welcomed jamming at the end of "Low Expectations," rocking it up on "Help You Out" and slowing things down a bit for "How Did You Get So Mean." Charts may be just another drop of seawater in the vast ocean of Portland's surf-pop scene, but Breaks is still a pretty good beach vacation, fake or not. SHANNON GORMLEY.

SEE IT: Charts play Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St., with Souvenir Driver and Fog Father, on Thursday, Jan. 28. 8:30 pm. $6. 21+.

Willamette Week

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.