3 out of 5

Label: Chunklet

Produced by: Kevin Kim (recorded by)

Likely more worthwhile for existing Don Cab fans than casual ones, “Five Pairs of Crazy Pants. Wear ‘Em” seems like a suitable release to have come out during the Damon Che latter era of the band, given Che’s clear preference for rock-oriented material (as opposed to the outre stuff they started to push toward between Don Cab 2 and American Don), and here we have first recordings of many of the tracks that would appear on their most directly rocking album, For Respect. As a fan, this isn’t uninteresting: we get slightly looser, more full-steam-ahead versions of the originals – they’re actually a little slower, but I found the raw, untouched nature of the recording to provide more momentum – and while they’re almost wholly in line with stuff we’d hear on that debut, or individual singles later collected on Singles Breaking Up, the overall mood of the songs and sequencing are distinct enough to make this way more than demos or outtakes or even rough cuts: it’s the core of the songs, played with youthful sincerity.

If you’re a more casual listener of Don Caballero, though, there’s probably not much need for that same reason: owning the album / singles compilation, you’ve got the tightened up, certainly better-recorded versions of these tracks. Which, again, doesn’t devalue the Crazy Pants versions, but makes them redundant if you’re not an own-it-all type.

…Which leads into the last possibility: that this is somehow your first time hearing Don Cab, or hearing these tracks. I’d say this actually isn’t a bad proposition, because of the crossover: while the sound quality on these is certainly rough (if cleaned up significantly for this LP / digital release), all the bits and bobs are intact, and the group just undeniably rocks. I actually tend to find For Respect’s “cleaner” recording style to sometimes drain the impact of these songs, and For Pants brings back that edge (even though I’d opposingly argue that that same limitation gives the pro version of the album much more dimension, and thus endurability as an experience). In other words, you’re definitely getting a taste of Don Cab, and it’s brash and unique enough to still hook you into wanting more; it is a totally fine way of first hearing the group or these songs.

The two new tracks (Schuman Center ’91, Waltor) are in line with what I’m saying above: they fit with the session; they’re not necessary additions to your catalogue except that it’s awesome to hear the unheard. Same goes for the live set that’s appended to these recordings: it’s recorded well, but you could kinda mix it up with the first part of the album (the tracks mostly match, just differently sequenced) except for the crowd cheering. I mean, if you had any doubts that the studio cuts were performed without manipulation, the fact that the then-trio can bring the same intensity and complexity live makes it undeniable.