Garage punk trio Upside Down Room first popped up on most fans’ radars with the release of their 1995 self-titled EP for Tooth & Nail Records. However, they’d already released 3 cassette demos prior to that, going back as early as 1991.
The band hailed from southern California, and for the most part played a raw, gritty form of punk rock and roll. Jason Martin (Starflyer 59, et. al.) was recruited to produce their T&N debut and also contributed some guitars to the record. While UDR was definitely committed to punk rock, Martin’s signature layered approach added a quality to the garage rock previously unheard.
Most of the rest of the band’s material reverted to the stripped-back approach, making this EP a sort of standalone in their otherwise lengthy catalog of primitive punk. This has also caused me to wonder about how the partnership came about and what their working relationship was like, as well as their intentions for their overall sound. Regardless, both approaches from the band work, and as a fan I’m grateful for more than one to slice it.
The band has released a handful of singles, EPs, and other assortments for a total of 13 releases altogether. “Candy Can You” is the lead-off track from the EP, and hence the first song many fans of the band ever heard.
