"Well, you've always been an uptight / Swipe right / Night life / Type with low morale / You're seeking for a new script / Quick fix / Big hit of / Metaphysical..."
The funk punk / indie rock rhyme roller coaster of "Pick Up The Check" by NYC's cultural commentators BODEGA, and the first glimpse of their upcoming 4th full length, dances in free form ways and falls headfirst down mid aughts sonic rabit holes. On a previous review I brought up artists like Shame spiralling all the way down to the late 70's / 80's Human Sexual Response (as well as iconic indie bands like Slow Children and XTC) and I still feel like those are kind of adjacent artist even though the members of BODEGA may not even be familiar with them. It is the nature of art that those of us who consume it base their perceptions based on what they have happily swallowed before. I do very much feel like this song revels in sonic surprises pulled from a smorgasbord of anti-pop flavors pulled from LP crates from acquaintenances of all ages and places, I feel a strong kind of artful breath from the UK with these guys for whatever reason.
I am enamored with the jagged bass lines and artfully power punching drums dance, the sprite guitar rhythms that leave bendy notes hanging one minute and throttling dense power chords the next as a purposely unsteady framework for Ben Hozie's provocative beatnik poet vocal countenance full of hard bottom turns, gliding beauty and vicious cutbacks.
LINER NOTES (excertped / bracketed):
[“Pick up the Check” shows the quintet stretching its legs into new territory, both in perspective and philosophy, and expanding upon their sounds, exploring a new musical palette. “We were very into channeling this late ‘80s/early ‘90s Stone Roses-meets-Jane’s Addiction thing, with more riffing and guitar solos,” Hozie notes.
Discussing the single, Hozie adds, “This song is set at an imagined date at a faux fancy restaurant w/ art deco wallpaper and fish-tank ambiance. I know too many friends who tolerate unfulfilling relationships (either romantic, platonic, artistic, or business) out of politeness or fear of letting others down. You don’t have to. The real danger of spending time w/ people who don’t inspire is how their way of being rubs off on your mind and personae. Strike the set, rewrite the draft, and pick up the (metaphorical) check.”
Discussing the single, Hozie adds, “This song is set at an imagined date at a faux fancy restaurant w/ art deco wallpaper and fish-tank ambiance. I know too many friends who tolerate unfulfilling relationships (either romantic, platonic, artistic, or business) out of politeness or fear of letting others down. You don’t have to. The real danger of spending time w/ people who don’t inspire is how their way of being rubs off on your mind and personae. Strike the set, rewrite the draft, and pick up the (metaphorical) check.”
The single is a first taste of a new full-length album due later in 2026, and marks the first time BODEGA recorded outside New York City, venturing to Leeds, England to work with producer Matt Peel (Yard Act, Honesty, Divorce). The track was mixed in Brighton, with Theo Verney (English Teacher, Lime Garden).]
WRITTEN BY Ben Hozie, Nikki Belfiglio, Daniel Ryan, Adam See, Adam Shumski, Kegan Zema, Mike Greene
PRODUCED BY Matt Peel
ENGINEERED BY Danny Blackburn
RECORDING ASSISTANT: Lewis Hall
MIXED BY Theo Verney
LYRICS
Well, you've always been an uptight
Swipe right
Night life
Type with low morale
You're seeking for a new script
Quick fix
Big hit of
Metaphysical
If you find yourself out to dinner
Void with a big bag try to win ya
Been here before
Candles flicker
Never said no to the chilliest winter
If the play don't lead to evolution
Lines you speak tossed in the pollution
There's only ever one solution
Can't waste mind
Speak to disillusion
Think now with your pants
Raise your hand
Take a stand
And re-write the draft
Put in all you have
Think out of your trance
Raise your hand
Take a stand
No, don't wait a sec
It's time to take the check
Hell, you've always been a sci-fi
Playwright
But spotlight
OK on the corral
You've locked up all your insight
Inside
Untie
Let boat sea the canal
If you find you're cold as refrigerator
Fuzzy with a purpose, shoegazer
Nail on the head again, Hellraiser
Mind is cosmos, you creator
Views from the chatroom
Mind is a vacuum
Feel like the fish trapped
Tank in the bathroom
Feel unreal
Mind is a costume
On the wrong set
Then know you've got to...
Think now with your pants
Raise your hand
Take a stand
And re-write the draft
Put in all you have
Think out of your trance
Raise your hand
Take a stand
No, don't wait a sec
Time to take the check
Think now with your pants
Raise your hand
Take a stand
And re-write the draft
Put in all you have
Think out of their trance
Raise your hand
Understand what the
Glass reflects
Time to strike the set
Pick up the check
Pick up the check
Button eject
Strike the set now
Pick up the check
Start up the trek
Giant the steps
Strike the set
Pick up the check
Pick up the check
Put on credit
Strike the set now
Pick up the check
Start up the trek
Giant the steps
Strike the set
See you later, calculator
Wallpaper with a skyscraper
Terminate it, serenader
Rising up like elevator
See you later, calculator
Wallpaper with a skyscraper
Terminate it, serenader
Rising up like elevator
Think now with your pants
Raise your hand
Take a stand
And re-write the draft
Put in all you have
Think out of your trance
Raise your hand
Take a stand
No, don't wait a sec
Time to take the check
Think now with your pants
Raise your hand
Take a stand
And re-write the draft
Put in all you have
Think out of their trance
Raise your hand
Understand what the
Glass reflects
Time to strike the set
Pick up the check
Pick up the check
Button eject
Strike the set now
Pick up the check
Start up the trek
Giant the steps
Strike the set
AMERICAN PANCAKE has been doing this since 2009-- YOU can help the EFFORT.
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3lnWfdMG9U0oVMC15SEbB5
https://www.instagram.com/bodegabk/
https://www.tiktok.com/@bodegabk
https://www.bodega-band.com/
Well, you've always been an uptight
Swipe right
Night life
Type with low morale
You're seeking for a new script
Quick fix
Big hit of
Metaphysical
If you find yourself out to dinner
Void with a big bag try to win ya
Been here before
Candles flicker
Never said no to the chilliest winter
If the play don't lead to evolution
Lines you speak tossed in the pollution
There's only ever one solution
Can't waste mind
Speak to disillusion
Think now with your pants
Raise your hand
Take a stand
And re-write the draft
Put in all you have
Think out of your trance
Raise your hand
Take a stand
No, don't wait a sec
It's time to take the check
Hell, you've always been a sci-fi
Playwright
But spotlight
OK on the corral
You've locked up all your insight
Inside
Untie
Let boat sea the canal
If you find you're cold as refrigerator
Fuzzy with a purpose, shoegazer
Nail on the head again, Hellraiser
Mind is cosmos, you creator
Views from the chatroom
Mind is a vacuum
Feel like the fish trapped
Tank in the bathroom
Feel unreal
Mind is a costume
On the wrong set
Then know you've got to...
Think now with your pants
Raise your hand
Take a stand
And re-write the draft
Put in all you have
Think out of your trance
Raise your hand
Take a stand
No, don't wait a sec
Time to take the check
Think now with your pants
Raise your hand
Take a stand
And re-write the draft
Put in all you have
Think out of their trance
Raise your hand
Understand what the
Glass reflects
Time to strike the set
Pick up the check
Pick up the check
Button eject
Strike the set now
Pick up the check
Start up the trek
Giant the steps
Strike the set
Pick up the check
Pick up the check
Put on credit
Strike the set now
Pick up the check
Start up the trek
Giant the steps
Strike the set
See you later, calculator
Wallpaper with a skyscraper
Terminate it, serenader
Rising up like elevator
See you later, calculator
Wallpaper with a skyscraper
Terminate it, serenader
Rising up like elevator
Think now with your pants
Raise your hand
Take a stand
And re-write the draft
Put in all you have
Think out of your trance
Raise your hand
Take a stand
No, don't wait a sec
Time to take the check
Think now with your pants
Raise your hand
Take a stand
And re-write the draft
Put in all you have
Think out of their trance
Raise your hand
Understand what the
Glass reflects
Time to strike the set
Pick up the check
Pick up the check
Button eject
Strike the set now
Pick up the check
Start up the trek
Giant the steps
Strike the set
AMERICAN PANCAKE has been doing this since 2009-- YOU can help the EFFORT.
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3lnWfdMG9U0oVMC15SEbB5
https://www.instagram.com/bodegabk/
https://www.tiktok.com/@bodegabk
https://www.bodega-band.com/
https://www.facebook.com/BODEGABK/
OUR BRAND COULD BE YR LIFE coming soon!
NYC's cultural commentators BODEGA return with "Pick Up The Check" (Official Video), a song that further displays the true ambition and heart of their upcoming album, (later this year ).
BODEGA, post punk, alt rock, New York City, "Pick Up The Check" (Official Video), proto punk, indie rock, post punk, Nikki Belfiglio, new wave, 70's proto punk, 80's new wave, filmmaker, songwriter, Ben Hozie, musician,
OUR BRAND COULD BE YR LIFE coming soon!
NYC's cultural commentators BODEGA return with "Pick Up The Check" (Official Video), a song that further displays the true ambition and heart of their upcoming album, (later this year ).
BODEGA, post punk, alt rock, New York City, "Pick Up The Check" (Official Video), proto punk, indie rock, post punk, Nikki Belfiglio, new wave, 70's proto punk, 80's new wave, filmmaker, songwriter, Ben Hozie, musician,
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