The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2009: PVC Street Gang's "Cutlass" Is So Gutless at No. 22

By Pete Freedman Thu., Dec. 10 2009 at 4:37 PM

[Editor's Note: Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be presenting my favorite local songs of the year, counting down from No. 25 to No. 1, one track a day. Today, we take an in-depth look at song No. 22 on the list--and click after the jump for a free download of the track. Lastly, keep checking back to see how the list pans out, and, also after the jump, check out songs No. 40-26 in the Top 40 list that will update as it grows...]

No. 23: PVC Street Gang -- "Cutlass"

Seemingly out of nowhere in the spring of this year, an oddball Denton-based outfit called PVC Street Gang started popping up on bills around town with more and more regularity. And with it, the band brought along a lo-fi, bass-heavy indie rock sound--but it certainly wasn't your parents' indie rock. This band's brand, rather, came with a serious set of huevos, brashly announcing the trio's arrival on the local scene.

Bonus mp3: PVC Street Gang -- "Cutlass"

Subtly melodic and teasingly repetitive, "Cutlass" scores major points for its simplicity. But also for its combination of varied elements--namely feedback-heavy guitar riffs, a dark bass line and an incessantly danceable break beat. Recalling earlier, less time-tested post-punk days, the song is an immediate earworm--but not for the faint of heart, either.

And with it, PVC Street Gang has effectively drawn a line in the sand. No, maybe the band's music isn't for everyone. But for those with similar lo-fi, '80s post-punk tastes, "Cutlass" stands as one of the most effective calls-to-arms seen from any area outfit in 2009, welcoming audiences to the sonic landscape of a distopian future that isn't anywhere near as friendly as we'd been led to believe.

The Top 40 Local Songs of 2009 (Links to music videos and free song downloads available where applicable; links to streams where neither a download nor video exists.)
40. The Wax Museums -- "Safety in Numbers"
39. Macon Greyson -- "Pushing Strings"
38. The Burning Hotels -- "Austin's Birthday" (video)
37. The Riverboat Gamblers -- "DissDissDissKissKissKiss" (video)
36. Salim Nourallah -- "Endless Dream Days"
35. The Phuss -- "Preacher, Preacher"
34. The Southern Sea -- "These Things Always End Badly"
33. Fungi Girls -- "Pacifica Nostalgia"
32. Giggle Party -- "Jason Bought a Hatchet" (video)
31. Carter Albrecht -- "Country Living" (stream)
30. This Old House -- "At Risk"
29. Occult Detective Club -- "You'll Follow Me"
28. Bad Sports -- "Nothing But Agitation"
27. Darktown Strutters -- "Quakertown"
26. The Crash That Took Me -- "Patricia Lynn" (stream)
25. Red Monroe -- "Pat Mayse Lake"
24. Danny Balis -- "Tethered"
23. Sleep Whale -- "Cotton Curls"
22. PVC Street Gang -- "Cutlass" (video)
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...and be sure to keep checking back, as this list will update daily.