Before their debut album Screens, Low Culture put out a few short releases that hinted of their full potential. Now, with their first full-length, the band has delivered on the promise of catchy, melodic garage-punk with a creative, arty side to it. Screens plays through incredibly well, accented by standout tracks “Pills,” “Waste The Day Away,” and “To The Grave.”

Low Culture reminds me as much of their contemporaries as their predecessors. The artists that immediately come to mind are Tijuana Panthers, Harlem, Male Bonding, Black Lips, Jacuzzi Boys, and, to a lesser extent, FIDLAR, all of which have been producing catchy garage-punk over the past few years.

The tricky thing about Low Culture is that they’re in a crowded field of bands mining that raw, rickety, garage sound, and it’s not easy to stand out. They’re making great music that deserves to be heard, but the competition is numerous and fierce. It’s not to say that they won’t find an audience, but it could be tricky. I certainly hope they do.

(Dirtnap Records, 3840 SE Gladstone Street, Portland, OR 97202)