Cheap Time

Cheap Time is a pivotal project in the 21st-century Nashville garage rock explosion, led by the prolific Jeffrey Novak. Formed in 2006 following the dissolution of the Rat Traps, the band initially featured Jemina Pearl and Nathan Vasquez of Be Your Own Pet, establishing a lineage of high-energy Tennessee punk.

Their sound is a meticulous reconstruction of '70s proto-punk, glam, and power pop, specifically referencing the bratty energy of Redd Kross and the melodic precision of The Quick. Over four studio albums on the influential In the Red Records, Novak evolved the project from straightforward garage punk into a more complex, art-rock influenced entity. This transition saw the band incorporating influences from the Canterbury scene and early solo John Cale, resulting in a discography that balances primitive aggression with intellectual curiosity. Critically, they are regarded as a 'musician's band,' respected for their deep knowledge of rock history and their ability to translate vintage aesthetics into a contemporary, urgent context without falling into mere revivalism.