Squid - Carburetor

Review by June Kellogg

Carburetor by Squid: A Wild Ride Through Rock’s Winding Roads Let’s get one thing straight—Carburetor isn’t your run-of-the-mill rock album. Released in 2009 by the US-based band Squid (not to be confused with those British indie darlings of the same name), this record is like that weird neighbor who always mows their lawn at midnight: intriguing, kinda unsettling, but impossible to ignore. With its mix of Alternative Rock, Math Rock, Indie Rock, and Post-Punk vibes, it's less of an album and more of a chaotic joyride through some seriously twisted musical terrain. First off, props to the crew behind this beast. You’ve got D. Reynolds, J. Kourkounis, J. Christ, M. Prinzing, and T.B. Hall throwing down mad skills as the band, while Andrew Buscher handled recording duties like a boss. Bob Weston mastered this sucker, ensuring every note hits harder than your ex’s passive-aggressive texts. And let’s not forget Bryan Feuchtinger for editing and BW for cutting lacquers smoother than butter on a hot biscuit. Now, onto the meat and potatoes—or should I say grapes? Track one, “Grapehead,” kicks things off with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer to the face. It starts with these jangly guitars that feel like they’re trying to escape from math class, then BAM! The rhythm section locks into gear, and suddenly you’re caught in a whirlwind of angular riffs and stop-start dynamics. By the time the vocals kick in, you’re either headbanging or questioning your life choices. Either way, it sticks with you. There’s something about how raw and unhinged it feels—like watching someone build a rocket out of duct tape and sheer willpower. It’s messy, sure, but damn if it doesn’t work. Then there’s the title track, “Carburetor.” If “Grapehead” is the wild child crashing the party, “Carburetor” is the moody philosopher lurking in the corner, muttering cryptic truths under their breath. This tune takes its sweet time revving up, layering hypnotic grooves until you’re fully locked in. When the chorus finally explodes, it’s like being hit by a wave of nostalgia for a place you’ve never even been. Something about the interplay between the guitar lines and the pounding drums just clicks—it’s intricate without being pretentious, clever without being show-offy. Honestly, it’s the kind of song that makes you want to drive aimlessly around town at 2 AM, windows down, screaming lyrics no one else can hear. So yeah, Carburetor might not be perfect, but perfection is overrated anyway. What it lacks in polish, it makes up for in personality. Listening to it feels like stumbling into a secret club where everyone’s too cool to care what anyone thinks—and honestly, we need more of that in music today. Random thought before I bail: Did anyone else notice how many people were involved in making this album sound so gloriously lo-fi? Like, did they have a checklist of ways to make it sound both pristine and like it was recorded in someone’s garage during a power outage? Genius move. Final verdict? Give Carburetor a spin if you’re tired of cookie-cutter playlists and crave something that’ll leave you scratching your head—and maybe humming along against your will. Oh, and if you see Squid live, bring earplugs. Or don’t. Your call.

Artist: Squid
Album: Carburetor

Rock

2009

Rating: 4.5

Review
About Album
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Tracks
Video
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Catalog Numbers
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Listen online
Formats
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Credits
Notes
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About Artist
Interesting fact
Comments
Related albums

Download

Filename: squid-carburetor.zip

MP3 size: 8 mb
FLAC size: 86.8 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Carburetor	3:00
Grapehead	3:35

Video

SQUID - Carburator

Images

Catalog Numbers

COW 009

Labels

Cash Cow

Listen online

ascolta in linea
ouvir online
écouter en ligne
lyssna på nätet
escuchar en línea
kuunnella verkossa
online luisteren
lytte på nettet
online anhören

Formats

Vinyl
7"
45 RPM
Limited Edition
White

Companies

Role	Company
Phonographic Copyright (p)	Squid
Copyright (c)	Squid
Pressed By	United Record Pressing
Printed By	Smokeproof Press
Recorded At	Happy House Studios
Edited At	Uneven Studio
Mastered At	Chicago Mastering Service
Lacquer Cut At	Chicago Mastering Service

Credits

Role	Credit
Band	D. Reynolds, J. Kourkounis, J. Christ, M. Prinzing, T.B. Hall
Edited By	Bryan Feuchtinger
Lacquer Cut By	BW
Mastered By	Bob Weston
Recorded By	Andrew Buscher

Notes

Recorded at Happy House, Buffalo, NY 4/19/93
Edited at Uneven Studio, Denver, CO, Feb 2009
Mastered at Chicago Mastering Service, July 2009
℗ & © 1993, 2009 Squid
℗ & © 1993, 2009 Cash Cow Production
Comes with five inserts total. Three inserts and two lyric sheets.
Limited to 300 copies.

Barcodes

Matrix / Runout (Side A runout etched): ⓤ COW-009-A [CMS logo] BW 090727 WANTON MIXING LOVING WITH IRE
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout etched): ⓤ COW-009-B [CMS logo] BW 090727 TO MAKE MYSELF MY HAND

About Squid

Members

Jason Kourkounis

m.soundcloud.com

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s a cool little fact: The album *Carburetor* by Squid, released in 2009, is a hidden gem in the world of indie and math rock. It blends raw post-punk energy with intricate alternative rock vibes. What makes it even more special? The mastering was done by Bob Weston, who’s worked with some legendary bands. And get this—it was recorded by Andrew Buscher, then cut to lacquer by someone credited simply as "BW." Not bad for an under-the-radar release on the Cash Cow label out of the US! Tracks like *Grapehead* and *Carburetor* still pack a punch today.