Victory and Associates is a rock band from Oakland, CA. Comprised of vocalist/guitarist Conan Neutron, bassist/vocalist Evan Gritzon, lead guitarist Shane Otis, and  drummer Jacob "Mouse" Menough. This is their second full length record, following up 2011's "These Things Are Facts" and last year's "Plausibly Wild/Wildly Plausible" double A-side single. Victory and Associates formed in early 2010, starting a mission to create true and honest rock and roll trying their best to prove that punk rock is a mindset as much as a strict genre classification, and that big rock does not have to be dumb to be good.

Victory and Associates simultaneously embrace the glorious and the foolish in rock and roll. Where rock 'n' roll not only includes the Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, but DEVO, the Melvins and the Buzzcocks. There is much more to be said in the idiom of rock 'n' roll and Victory and Associates will darn well say it.

There are no four letter words in any Victory and Associates songs, but there is diversity. The booming "We'll Have to Be Our Own Heroes", blasts out of the gate with a desperate energy and a message of self empowerment. Sorry, the people that were going to save the day decided they had better things to do. The lush Everything's Amazing (Nobody's Happy) is the peppiest song about first world entitlement/taking the marvels of our modern world for granted that you will hear all week. It's also the only song we can think of that's directly inspired by a Louis C.K. comedy bit. The spacey and inexorable groove of For Serious is quite literally a song in defense of sincerity itself, a concept that's been hijacked by utter idiots, fools, wastoids and shameless marketeers. 

Better Luck Next Life is a rock record containing ten songs of disillusionment, disappointment, frustration at diminished expectations and hope. Always hope. Even as it seems like hope itself is disappearing on the horizon. Party, right? look - this is not strict cookie cutter genre music and every song doesn’t sound exactly the same, but this IS for real… this is FOR SERIOUS. These are songs directly inspired by the singularity of disappointment, closing one's self off to new experiences, the TV show "Party Down" and the harsh realization that at some point you need to pass the torch to others to carry on. High-minded concepts married to huge riffs, hooks and an undeniable sense of fun. It is dark, battered, exhausted but never defeated  

Produced by Toshi Kasai (Melvins, Federation X, Liars, Tool), these ten songs are aimed right at your solar plexus. In the age of hologramatic performers, nostalgia without end, pious indifference and a gruel-like malaise of passively consonant and safe background music. Better Luck Next Life can be hard to pin down, but is ultimately rewarding for those that come along for the ride.

Victory and Associates have shared the stage with the likes of the Thermals, Mike Watt, Helms Alee, the Blind Shake and more. This is their second full-length record and sixth release since starting in early 2010. They intend to make many, many more and continue to bring an immediate, intense and enjoyable live show to the US and beyond.

RIYL: Rocket From the Crypt, Cheap Trick, Mudhoney, the Thermals, Future of the Left, Buzzcocks, Torche, Archers of Loaf.

Artwork by Michael Marchant. Gorgeous gatefold 180 gram black vinyl. Stately.

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