Pop-rock band Petting Zoo has released a new single on SoundCloud, “CoCo.” The single is the second off of their upcoming third album — Top Gem World Class — slated for a November 12 release.
The NYC-based quartet has honed a light, slightly psychedelic sound since their formation in 2013 while students at UMass Amherst. After going on hiatus in 2017, Petting Zoo’s upcoming album will mark their first collection of original music in almost seven years. In an Instagram post announcing the project, they described it as
8 meticulously cut gems, masterfully curated for optimal listening pleasure.
Petting Zoo shared “CoCo” on October 22. The song balks the time-honored autumn tradition of leaning into mournful and heavy melodies, feeling like a breath of fresh summery air, tinged with an ocean breeze. Though the song sounds commercial, Christian Heglund’s unassuming and syrupy vocals make the track feel sweetly sincere, not stylized.
The record reflects on a lover who only loves when it’s convenient…but even so, you come back for more.
You want me around/ When I’m the only guy town,
Heglund sings bittersweetly over Joey Distasio’s lilting acoustic guitar.
However, no matter what, “that cocoa fragrance” always draws Heglund back. Light production touches up the record, like mumbled voices in the background of the bridge, emphasizing the band’s casual relatability. Their whispers leave you curious, wishing you had been in the studio to hear what words were mumbled throughout. Yet, Petting Zoo’s music is the opposite of inaccessible. Rather than relying on exclusive intrigue, they welcome you into their world.
In August, Petting Zoo released a single, “Heavy Direction.” With a twinkling piano riff and grimy funk bass-line, the track has a Zappa influence that heightens Petting Zoo’s standard soft-rock sound. Coming together shortly after the band’s reunion at the beginning of the summer, bassist, Tim Zoldis, who wrote the original riff, spoke confidently on the production, christening it,
the most Petting Zoo riff possible.
After three sold-out shows at The Bitter End in Greenwich Village, Petting Zoo has more dates on the horizon. Next up, the quartet will return to The Bitter End on November 20th. After that, they’ll kick off 2022 with a show at the Mercury Lounge on February 4th. To hear more, visit https://pettingzoo.bandcamp.com/.
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