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Sump Pumps

Revenge of the Sump Pumps

2007 » 8 Bit

posted Mon Apr 14th, 2008 by Amy Beeman

Steady rockin’ beats, synthy-old-school video games, glittery iron-on letters, cloth belts, Tab, Space Invaders, effin-hot-ass-rage, sexy nerds: These are the things that come to mind as I listen to The Sump Pumps. The Bloomington Indiana quartet's third album, titled Revenge of the Sump Pumps, is why dirty, sweaty rock-n-roll bars exist. The self-described anti-wave synth-punk band inspires my inner fuck-the-world, and it feels good. The Sump Pumps influences include Braniac, Six Finger Salute, Devo, The Cars, Ramones and Oingo Boingo, according to their MySpace page. The steady hard drumming, simple guitar and synthesizer riffs combined with clearly understood vocals create a palpable and fun energy. I just know these guys would completely rock out a live show. Plus they wear matching outfits, which shows that even though they’re a punk band, they still know how to be professional. I swear track eight "Shortest Fuse," samples early 80’s video game noises, but it’s blended so well that the overwhelming feeling I get is of being in the arcade stashing quarters in the pockets of my ‘Roos. They had me at the first song, "Space Camp." It’s like they read my fifth grade diary when they say, “Hey kids where do you wanna go? Fuck yeah, space camp! Do you want to go to space camp? Fuck yeah, space camp!” Remember that movie with Leah Thompson? Who among us didn’t want to go to space camp?

Fuck Yeah, Sump Pumps.