Peggy Lee by M.Krebs is a debut record that consolidates the band’s place as one of the best forthcoming acts to emerge out of the contemporary Seattle indie scene. The Album, with 12 songs and a runtime of roughly 45 minutes takes you on a journey of introspection thanks to the brilliance of the songwriters. M.Krebs is Spencer Moody, Brian Yeager, and Jeff Alvarez.

Recorded in Seattle, Washington, and N.Kohala, Hawaii, Peggy Lee boasts of intricately crafted soundscapes that venture into the realms of post-punk and shoegaze, while still maintaining its own unique identity as a standout indie record that introduces M.Krebs to the global masses.

Dissecting Peggy Lee

One of the salient features of the album lie in the fact that the lyrical narrative has been crafted in a manner that is reminiscent of poetry. Taking a page out of the books of blues music, the vocals are often portrayed as a ‘dictation’ rather than a song. This encapsulates the raw emotive quality of M.Krebs’ music that puts them a notch above the rest of the competition.

After the opening track called “John Prine” which is followed by the title track of the album, Peggy Lee quickly picks up the pace and engulfs the listener. The production of the album is top-notch. Whether its the ambient synth sounds or the reverberating walls of overdriven guitars, each element of the music sits perfectly in the stereo field. In turn, creating a sound that is reminiscent of the shoegaze and grunge music of the late 90s. The three-piece rock outfit has truly outdone itself with its debut instalment.

While a song like “Middle Ground” explores the brighter and more cheerful aspect of M.Krebs’ music, the album mostly holds onto a dark and ominous tonality. The musical influences are genre-defying. While tracks like “Calm The Beast” bears resemblance to RnB and Soul music, “Eyes in the Back of Her Head” is borderline metal. The band never wavers from their signature sound of gritty vocals over hairy guitar riffs, held together by groovy basslines. Till the very end of the album, which concludes with Songs in the Key of Maynard, M.Krebs manages to create a psychedelic vibe that sounds like a lovechild of Tool and Stone Temple Pilots.

M.Krebs is here to stay

Dropped in early February 2023, “Peggy Lee” is technically the first release in the catalogue, making this a particularly exciting project. This is some “fresh out of the oven” independent music that fans would only expect much more exciting things to come from. In fact, the band has already stated that a second album is currently in the works. And to put a cherry on top of that, my fellow vinyl junkies, there is an LP slated for distribution in the fall via Displaced Snail Publications.

The album would work well as the soundtrack for both Mystery and Noir movies. The alternative and shoegaze influences give the record the basis required for it to accompany the darker themes that are generally attributed to such works of art. Particular movies that come to mind are Requiem for A Dream, Constantine, and Taxi Driver.

In conclusion, M.Krebs has successfully created a captivating work of art with intricate songwriting and immaculate production. If you’re a fan of indie alt-folk, grunge and shoegaze music with a hint of psychedelia, then this is one record that will find its place in your playlist. Fans worldwide can not wait to see what Moody, Yeager, and Alvarez have in store for them next!