There’s a relentlessly brooding power and bruised melodicism emanating from the Pack A.D.’s sixth full-length, Positive Thinking (Cadence), that belies the album’s cheery self-help title. Drummer Maya Miller admits that she and guitarist Becky Black intended a certain irony in the LP’s nomenclature. “It’s facetiously hopeful, which pretty much sums up our band.” says Miller. The Pack A.D. has always been foundationally blues based, with a detour into poppier territory on Do Not Engage. Over the past few albums, though, the band actively shifted toward psych rock, a major thread in the fabric of Positive Thinking. Miller will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our feature on the band.
Miller: Is there a more perfect food than a tamale? They come in so many different shapes and flavors. The only unacceptable tamales are the canned “tamales” made by Hormel’s. They come wrapped in plastic and the “meat” is at best, soy masquerading as meat, at worst, well, you get the picture. A true tamale is not a speedy thing to make. Thus, I can only think of them as all being made with pure love. I made tamales for my house warming last year, and it literally took eight hours, and that was with my bandmate helping me. The end result was entirely worth it though. If you are reading this and you have never had one, then I suggest you remedy that.
