We’ve got some concerns. Our beloved Partner, those darlings of Sackville, may have crafted the best album of 2017 and maybe even one of the best stoner rock albums of all time, but it might not be enough to escape the sophomore slump. Saturday the 14th, the band’s follow up to the very excellent In Search of Lost Time, is perhaps not all it could be. Partner’s second single, “Tell You Off” was released today and it feels like we’re heading towards something of a confrontation.
“Tell You Off” is the third in a string of questionable singles (including the barely-trying standalone “Lost My Pick” and borderline promotional jingle “Long and McQuade“) that has left us wondering if this is an elaborate gag. We’re hoping Partner are going to leap out of a crate somewhere (presumably in Chicago, check the tour dates) and surprise us with a whole new album.
The song first appeared during a performance on NPR’s Tiny Desk series, and while that version was quaintly silly and twangy and a little bit hokey it didn’t contain the full effect of barnyard noises.
“We wrote this song in Josée’s bedroom last year in Windsor Ontario and it’s the first time we’ve had to bleep a lyric in a song,” said Partner.
If this were one gag song amongst an album of hits, thrown in just to break things up we could understand. Go ahead and get silly. Change it around. Get creative. But a full album of this is going to be a bit much.
Partner, we love you. We will go to all of your shows and buy your albums and continue to support you, but we will say it to your faces: what is going on here?
Partner’s Saturday the 14th out April 5, 2019 on Father/Daughter Records (US) and You’ve Changed Records (CAN)
Tour Dates:
02.28.19 – The Hi Hat, Los Angeles CA*^
03.02.19 – The Crepe Place, Santa Cruz CA*
03.03.19 – Noise Pop Fest, San Francisco CA*^
03.05.19 – The Firefly Lounge, Bellingham WA
04.13.19 – The Danforth Music Hall, Toronto ON+
04.8.19 – The Capitol Music Club, Saskatoon SK+
04.19.19 – The Starlite Room, Edmonton AB+
04.20.19 – The Palace Theatre, Calgary AB+
04.22.19 – Spiritbar, Nelson BC+
04.23.19 – Sapphire Nightclub, Kelowna BC+
04.25.19 – Cactus Jacks, Kamloops BC+
04.26.19 – Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver BC+
04.27.19 – Capital Ballroom, Victoria BC+
04.30.19 – Bo’s Bar & Grill, Red Deer AB+
05.02.19 – The Exchange, Regina SK+
05.03.19 – The Garrick, Winnipeg MB+
05.05.19 – The Hideout, Chicago IL
05.06.19 – The Cactus Club, Milwaukee WI
05.07.19 – UFO, Detroit MI
+ supporting Wintersleep
*w/ Dude York
^w/ Blushh