Here’s Richard Edwards of Margot and The Nuclear So & So’s performing an acoustic version “Christ” off their new album Rot Gut Domestic. His response to the noisy people in the crowd at 40s is priceless. I wish more artists would do that.

“Prozac Rock” is the first single off Margot & The Nuclear So and So’s upcoming album Rot Gut, Domestic. The single sees Richard Edwards and the band continuing their deviation from the chamber-pop sound featured in earlier albums like Dust of Retreat and Animal! and instead focusing more on the electric-guitar driven indie rock soundscape that we heard on 2010’s Buzzard. 

As a long-time Margot fan, I think the single is great—then again, I was never a part of the sect of fans who criticized the band for it’s departure from it’s original sound chamber-pop sound in the first place. Sure, the departures of Emily Watkins on backing vocals and keyboards and Jesse Lee on cello changed the vibe of the band and yes, the band has taken a noticeably different route on their two most recent albums, but at it’s core Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s is still driven by the epic songwriting ability and perfectly imperfect voice of Richard Edwards. Adding guitarist Ron Kwasman, violinist/guitarist Erik Kang, and keyboardist Cameron McGill into the mix didn’t change the substance of the band, they merely revamped the way that core was accentuated—think of it as being akin to adding some new spices to your favorite dish.

I for one, will be undoubtedly be replaying “Prozac Rock” on loop until Rot Gut, Domestic hits shelves. For more info about the single and upcoming album check out the recent interview/blurb over at Paste Magazine.

This song has two of my favorite lyrics of all time.

I gotta go and you’re talking in code,
saying I know where you’ve been,
And I know where you go.

But I’ve been tired
from the minute I woke,
I stopped listening
the moment you spoke,
And said I’m long gone.
Yeah I’m long gone….

And I’m sleeping alone,
In a house I don’t own,
‘Cause if you’re touring your mind,
You’ll get lost everytime.

And you’ll sing me sad songs
to keep me awake,
in that bedroom where we hid away.
Baby I’m long gone,
Yeah I’m long gone….

And your voice cracks like a piano,
You keep moving
but where are you going.
Baby we’re long gone,
Yeah we’re long gone….

I don’t even care that I’m posting another Hey Rosetta! song. I haven’t been this excited about discovering a band since I listened to Margot’s Dust of Retreat. I’ve been listening to them all day and am showing no signs of fatigue. It’s like Arcade Fire, Margot and Young the Giant had an indie baby of awesomeness and birthed it in my ear-drums. Check out their albums here.

you wait, you waiver
you think, think, always must consider
cause every path’s a problem
every turn is trouble
and you’ll probably never solve them
so why not love them?

no no this is not allowed (my darling sleep)
wrap that busy head in sound (breathe it in)
rocking gently inside this (the din be peace)
no, no, no, no, no, no, yes! yes! yes!

you’ve got this feeling you’ll live to get what you give
you’ll be an old man soon…
i’ve got this feeling i’ll be an old man soon

Margot & The Nuclear So and So’s is, far and away, the band that I am the most psyched to have discovered this year. I can’t begin to count the number of times I listened to their old albums (Dust of Retreat, Animal!, and Not Animal) throughout the year but I can say that by now I know just about every word to every song.

Luckily, I happened to come across the band just in time for the release of their 2010 album, Buzzard—an album that is geared more towards the electric guitar than prior albums but still carryies on the epic songwriting of Richard Edwards. It also meant that I got to catch them live on their supporting tour, which was AWESOME.

Here’s a great live version of “Will You Love Me Forever” off the new album, filmed at Electraplay in Ohio. Be sure to also check out “Claws Off” from the same set.