Trigger Lovers

Papertrigger is sexed up and ready to eat you alive, Philadelphia.

by A.D. Amorosi

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"We definitely embraced the hidden power of seduction with this record," says drummer Brian James Dwyer of Papertrigger's first full length, Snake Sale.

The Roxborough-by-way-of-Syracuse quintet until this point solely recorded EPs, like 2007's Riot Lovers. That's a good name for what they do — they dig anarchy. The raucous musical theatricality has always been a smart match for lyricist Chris Manglos' brash, dramatic monologues.

Their live shows reeked of the same flashy, panicked overdrive. Anyone who's heard the 'Trigger has witnessed the spirits of Eno, Man Man, Syd Barrett and Vikings (the Nords, not a band) in its mix.

But something snapped while they were writing their debut LP in 2008. They suddenly wanted to be sexier.

"Mainly it's through the storytelling, but it's seduction all the same that guided us," says Dwyer. "We wrote this album with very specific, concrete ideas as to what sort of moods we wanted to be put in while listening. With ideas much more intentional, and a heck of a lot more developed this time around, we were able to include softer, more thought-provoking songs."

So "Move the Ground," "David" and "West" are slinkier, more come-hither songs than Papertrigger's previous thump-and-runs.

And Snake Sale — recorded in four days at Larry Gold's studio — has the feel of a weird, spacey Broadway musical. "Or the telling of an old parable from the future," laughs Dwyer.

There's another reason Snake Sale shows Papertrigger's softer skin. Though they'll never stop shouting and banging things, Dwyer claims their image as boozy bruiser musicians precedes them. "I remember when we showed up in Philly, reviews were like, 'Drunken pirates! Marching bass drums! Lots of crap on stage! Bells strapped to their legs! Group vocals!' which was awesome and fun to be seen as. But honestly, our band has always been better at writing down-tempo, more melancholy stuff. The type of stuff you can listen to with headphones, maybe cry a little bit into your pillow because of it. The type of stuff that makes you want to call you family after listening and tell them you love them dearly."

The story that guides Snake Sale from start to finish — "please listen accordingly," asks Dwyer — involves a king who loses his shit and decides one day to start eating his kingdom piece by piece. Some townspeople freak out and revolt. Some seem to enjoy being supped upon.

"There's restlessness and trying to find satisfaction in the daily minutiae of life, there's questions regarding the powerful forces bigger than ourselves running this whole show," says Dwyer. And while Papertrigger's live act is about getting sweaty and going ballistic, Dwyer figures there's a time and a place for everything, and that this debut album was the place for the five-piece to get more intimate.

"I think we accomplished what we set out to do," he says. "Tell a seductive story, gradually coax the listener into a somber state, hit them over the head with a sock full of quarters, but then, be there to wipe the blood off and tell them that, in the end, everything is going to be just fine."

(a_amorosi@citypaper.net)

Papertrigger's Snake Sale CD release party with Pattern Is Movement and Whales and Cops, Sat., Feb. 21, 9 p.m., $10, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684, johnnybrendas.com.