Decent at Best has long been a band that Respect My Region has followed and supported. Hailing from Tacoma, this collective of musicians comes together to produce a unique sound that blends their different interests beautifully. You can hear a little soul, a little pop, and a little R&B vibes at times. Surprisingly, Urban Dictionary had a definition for Decent at Best and it is quite possibly the best thing I’ve dug up on the internet as of late. According to UD, they are “known for their swagger, buttery voices, and a bad hombre with some python calves…” If that doesn’t entice you, then I quit.
Decent at Best definition as per Urban Dictionary
A while ago they put out their album, Mind Games, on vinyl but purposefully left it off of streaming platforms to build anticipation. Well, that anticipation has finally subsided as they released the final song off their album onto DSP’s.
As a celebration, Decent at Best will hit the stage at Jazzbones in Tacoma for a special performance. This is a momentous occasion for the group and it’s one show that you won’t want to miss. Power Laces will be there, along with Sean the Shaman, and Torbjorn supporting them.
Decent at Best at Jazzbones in Tacoma November 4th
Decent at Best album Mind Games
One thing I love about Mind Games is the artwork done by Derek Muller. The play on retro 8-Bit graphic style and the Decent at Best edition Gameboy on the cover hit me right in my childhood heart. From there, the album plays out like a video game with each song becoming a different level to explore. Their often-upbeat melodies help to balance out the complex emotions that come with the lyrical content. The album focuses on the tumultuous emotional games that get played in certain kinds of relationships. Those kinds of relationships that you know from the very beginning probably won’t end well.
The track listing also moves along like a story arc with elements reflected in each song like the intro with “Met Her on the Road,” the conflict with “Ms. Communication,” and the realization with “Liability.” They even put in a bonus track at the end, “Cronic,” which has been in and out of rotation on various playlists I’ve made since the single released back in 2018.
Their self-described electro-funk always lifts my mood when I hear it. This record is definitely one that I’d recommend anybody add to their collection. It’s great music to dance to, great music to vibe with, and they’ll have copies of it for sale at their next show. Grab your tickets to Decent at Best at Jazzbones on November 4th and get ready to groove with the guys. I promise you’ll have a decent time, at best.
