Shit Machine. Night Court

Two and a half years ago Night Court debuted on this blog with the single 'Titanic'. An album and other singles followed and here's the second album, Shit Machine, alternatively called $hit Machine. Actually it is the band's fourth. On the album the band mixes punk(rock) superbly with powerpop. Most songs avoid the roughest edges of punk and bring elements from a more poppier side in instead. It all results in songs to both headbang and singalong to.

Night Court is a Vancouver trio (U.S. or Canada?) trio, Emilor, drums/vocals, Dave-O, guitar/vocals and Jiffy, bass/vocals. The band started when the three friends started to exchange musical ideas during the Covid lockdowns. This resulted in the 2022 album 'Nervous Birds Too'. By 2023 the band had released about 50 songs in one form or another. And here's Shit Machine containing no less than 17 new songs, though some have been released as singles over 2024.

Night Court has a prolific output and loads of inspiration. On top of that, the songs on Shit Machine sound inspired, full of energy and above all their good. The alternating lead vocals work really well, as do the harmony vocals. Having three vocalist in the band pays off. The melodies the band members find in all their songs immediately add to their attractiveness.

The album opens with a statement showing insight in how the world and more specific power works. "No guns no God no war no more" I will not go into politics here but it is quite a way to start an album in 2024, with war everywhere around. Before I know it I'm already into the second song. 'Mistakes Become You' is an incredibly strong song. Just listen to that intro. Bang, smack and the melody kicks in and a few seconds later that fantastic chorus is upon me. I'll admit that there is a strong Weezer element, like on "The Blue Album"". A reference that returns a few times, hence the powerpop reference above. Many of Night Court's songs are stronger than I've heard for well over decade from Weezer.

If you put on Shit Machine beware to pay attention. The album is over before you know it, despite the seventeen songs it contains. Night Court does not have time nor place for filling songs. The song is over when its over. That could be just after a minute or just over two, enter the next one. A song lasting just over two comes across as incredibly long. Weird as it may sound, it does.

Where on 'Nervous Birds Too' I pointed to garage rock next to the punk, I feel less inclined to use the term garage rock here. The band has grown too much for that. The songs are simply better, moving the band slowly into a higher league. Thinking that Night Court is releasing records only since 2022, it is a fair question where the next level lies for the band. Here's a confident fan though.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

You can listen to and order Shit Machine here:

https://nightcourtpunk.bandcamp.com/album/hit-machine