Biography

SELF IMPROVEMENT have the chops to play spotless, Pylon-style angular post-punk, but instead they’ve opted to do something much weirder. No song here is straightforward—indeed the fare seems to get further out there as the album progresses. Formed during the pandemic as a long-distance project, the four-piece is now based fully in Long Beach, CA. Frontperson Jett Witchalls has a breathy speak-sing vocal style, with irregular phrasing, sort of like Algebra Suicide; it’s captivating enough to keep this music interesting. The buzzing “Fear and Power,” which ends with psych guitar futzing, and the garagey, rocking “Filling Time” are two of the strongest songs here. But don’t overlook the slowed-down, minimal Prodigy cover, a sort of mash-up of “Firestarter” and “Smack My Bitch Up.” ---- Kerry Cardoza, Bandcamp "Best Punk of 2022."