Chapel Hill garage rockers Last Year’s Men are going into the studio in December to record the follow-up to 2010’s Sunny Down Snuff. With regular local shows, a delightfully bizarre Twitter feed, and unhinged, catchy songwriting, they have become a fun band to follow. And with the next LP taking a different, potentially more refined tack, this four-piece should remain one to watch.
“All the songs on this record could be played on acoustic guitars,” says guitarist and songwriter Ben Carr. “We’re essentially going to make a really mean pop record. The more punk and psychedelic songs will be saved for another future release.” The band is working with Greg Cartwright of Reigning Sound and Carrboro engineer and musician Wesley Wolfe on the upcoming sophomore LP. They will stay at Cartwright’s Asheville home for a mid-December recording session.
“It’ll be nice to get out of town, not work, not worry about girlfriends, power bills, or responsibilities and only focus on making a good record,” says Carr. He jokes about the similarities with the Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main Street recording process, but he’s serious and excited about the upcoming immersive experience. “We’ll be sleeping in the same house, eating the same meals, and making the same record for four days.”
Depending on how it’s released, this album may be out by February or March, though Carr isn’t rushing it. Having waited two years since the debut, he says, he’s content to wait until the mixes are just right before releasing it.
