Jubilee Offer: Patriotic Classics for £2.50 |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
|
Product Description
Review
There’s no getting away from the fact music does not obey environmental conditions; your teenage bedroom can have as much influence on your musical psyche as the weather or landscape. Such as the prosaically named Yuck, whose blistered guitar-pop is as Yankee as pumpkin pie. They even record for a label named Fat Possum! And yet they’re three-fifths British (drummer Jonny is from New Jersey; bassist Mariko from Hiroshima). But just four princely seconds of the opening Get Away will conjure up the gnarly energy and superfuzz bigmuff pedal fever of Dinosaur Jr’s Freak Scene. Six seconds of Operation will trigger moist memories of Sonic Youth’s Teenage Riot. This is not a bad thing, because Yuck appear to be the only band around reaching these neglected parts of the brain. How we have been starved.
In their former life, two Yucksters – Daniel (vocals, rhythm guitar) and Max (lead guitar) – didn’t even seem aware of their own commitment to the post-hardcore scene that gelled in the late 80s. The truth is that they only discovered it three years ago. At the age of 17, they had been members of Cajun Dance Party, but they’re better now and Yuck feels like an exhilarating burst for freedom. Their debut album is infused with so much body-moshing joy that you can forgive their starry-eyed homage (cut open The Wall and it will also bleed Dinosaur blood; Holing Out is a leaf out of Teenage Fanclub’s own American dream). Ironically, when Yuck move beyond starry-eyed homage, it falls a bit flat, as on the My Bloody Valentine-lite of Georgia (featuring Danny’s sister Ilana, the fifth Yuck, on shared vocals) or the depressed Lemonheads heartland of Shook Down.
Curiously, the last two songs, Rose Gives a Lilly (sparse, hypnotic) and Rubber (slow, grinding) are comparative leaps into the unknown; or rather, they’re what you imagine Yuck will sound like when they’re over their nostalgia crush. They claim their true influences are Pavement, Sparklehorse and Red House Painters, so we can expect more emotionally oblique, cunning, layered angles to Yuck’s music. Just as long as they don’t get rid of their ability to hit so many of rock’s sweet spots, they’ll be just fine.
--Martin Aston
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Yuck are certainly living up to the high expectations that have been placed on them. Even before the release of this debut album, they had already been named in BBC's 'Sound of 2011' as ones to watch. The band were formed in 2009. As longtime friends Daniel Blumberg and Max Bloom had previously been in a band together. Their female bassist Mariko Doi hailing from Hiroshima, drummer Jonny Rogoff from New Jersey (who dropped everything to be with the band, including a degree) and Daniel's sister Ilana (providing excellent backing vocals) complete the band. They are certainly the most exciting band I've heard for years, and tipped by some to be the forerunners in a new grunge revival.
The album was recorded on a £150 (approx.) eight track, and so is notably lo-fi. But don't let that put you off. The emotive melodies they churn out, with Daniel's voice sometimes being used like a fifth instrument that blends in to the fuzz and wail of the guitars are awesome. With some songs, 'Operation' in particular, it's hard to determine exactly what he's singing about, but just like the song 'Holing Out,' where the lyrics are about communication problems, feedback gradually covers a voice that is already slightly muffled; that's the point. But it's not all like that. Its the slower songs in particular like 'Suicide Policeman' and 'Shook Down,' where Ilana provides some amazing backing vocals. 'Georgia' reminded me of The Lemonheads' Evan Dando singing with Juliana Hatfield. There are many comparisons with Yuck to the likes of Smashing Pumpkins, Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth and many more, but in my opinion for a debut album, Yuck have blown these other bands out of the water. They've brought back a much needed sound from the late 80's, early 90's, but taken it to a new level. Yuck have created a tidal wave with this album. Phenomenal.
The album was recorded on a £150 (approx.) eight track, and so is notably lo-fi. But don't let that put you off. The emotive melodies they churn out, with Daniel's voice sometimes being used like a fifth instrument that blends in to the fuzz and wail of the guitars are awesome. With some songs, 'Operation' in particular, it's hard to determine exactly what he's singing about, but just like the song 'Holing Out,' where the lyrics are about communication problems, feedback gradually covers a voice that is already slightly muffled; that's the point. But it's not all like that. Its the slower songs in particular like 'Suicide Policeman' and 'Shook Down,' where Ilana provides some amazing backing vocals. 'Georgia' reminded me of The Lemonheads' Evan Dando singing with Juliana Hatfield. There are many comparisons with Yuck to the likes of Smashing Pumpkins, Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth and many more, but in my opinion for a debut album, Yuck have blown these other bands out of the water. They've brought back a much needed sound from the late 80's, early 90's, but taken it to a new level. Yuck have created a tidal wave with this album. Phenomenal.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
From the off you can hear Pixies, that thudding bass, it's here; you can hear My Bloody Valentine, with the heavily "fuzzed" guitars and the simultaneous male/ female vocals; we hear Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth, maybe even The Cure. But Yuck don't merely plagiarize, they pull everything off with sublimity, from the distortion drenched bookends 'Get Away' and 'Rubber' to the acoustic delight 'Suicide Policemen'. They make this sound theirs and only theirs, even the 'Teenage Riot' lift 'Operation' becomes thoroughly Yuck. Everything slots into place, the sounds and hooks conspire beautifully, even, (dare I say it?) originally..?
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The hype has been considerable and as some of the names bandied around in relation to this five-piece were perennial favourites of yours truly (Dinosaur Junior, Sonic Youth, Pavement), I was salivating at the prospect of giving this one a spin. How did it fare then?
I can't help but be impressed by their almost complete refusal to step outside their late 80s/early 90s time capsule. The fuzzed up guitar, pared back production values and rasping vocals alternating with gentle laments do yield memories of all the greats from this era. Tracks like Get Away, The Wall, Holing Out, Georgia and Operation are full of menace and attitude. Their sonic dissent is never allowed to run too far off the beaten track though. Each song, no matter how scruffed up by the alt-rock dynamic, retains structure and shape. The hooks are there along with catchy chorus refrains and this is enough to keep the attention of even the most ambivalent listener.
Equally, they are surprisingly competent when they ease their foot off the accelerator. Songs like Shook Down and Suck, alongside the penultimate effort Rose Gives a Lilly, reveal an unexpected tenderness and confidence when handling the stripped back fragility of lo-fi indie. These more pop-conscious efforts remind me of The Pixies at their most accessible and some of the vocals (particularly on Shook Down) touch on Teenage Fanclub stylistics that seem curiously relevant despite the overarching themes of this album.
So, why only four stars? Primarily, it is because they don't do enough beyond the template of the genre that they are so determined to recreate. Only on Rubber do they truly 'wig out' and that is by far the most interesting track on the album. This is why Sonic Youth and Pavement are so beloved - because they pushed or are continuing to push the boundaries of the scene they are in. Yuck certainly have the potential - the twin vocals of the Blumbergs and the taut bass of Mariko Doi suggest more may come from this band. Similarly, the refusal to allow all of this debut to be subsumed by their love for their alternative antecedents is admirable. However, there is not enough here of original vision and unique substance for the listener to be sure they are enjoying an act capable of setting their own terms and initiating their own scene.
All in all, a remarkably catchy and interesting debut with plenty of potential that is only partially fulfilled.
I can't help but be impressed by their almost complete refusal to step outside their late 80s/early 90s time capsule. The fuzzed up guitar, pared back production values and rasping vocals alternating with gentle laments do yield memories of all the greats from this era. Tracks like Get Away, The Wall, Holing Out, Georgia and Operation are full of menace and attitude. Their sonic dissent is never allowed to run too far off the beaten track though. Each song, no matter how scruffed up by the alt-rock dynamic, retains structure and shape. The hooks are there along with catchy chorus refrains and this is enough to keep the attention of even the most ambivalent listener.
Equally, they are surprisingly competent when they ease their foot off the accelerator. Songs like Shook Down and Suck, alongside the penultimate effort Rose Gives a Lilly, reveal an unexpected tenderness and confidence when handling the stripped back fragility of lo-fi indie. These more pop-conscious efforts remind me of The Pixies at their most accessible and some of the vocals (particularly on Shook Down) touch on Teenage Fanclub stylistics that seem curiously relevant despite the overarching themes of this album.
So, why only four stars? Primarily, it is because they don't do enough beyond the template of the genre that they are so determined to recreate. Only on Rubber do they truly 'wig out' and that is by far the most interesting track on the album. This is why Sonic Youth and Pavement are so beloved - because they pushed or are continuing to push the boundaries of the scene they are in. Yuck certainly have the potential - the twin vocals of the Blumbergs and the taut bass of Mariko Doi suggest more may come from this band. Similarly, the refusal to allow all of this debut to be subsumed by their love for their alternative antecedents is admirable. However, there is not enough here of original vision and unique substance for the listener to be sure they are enjoying an act capable of setting their own terms and initiating their own scene.
All in all, a remarkably catchy and interesting debut with plenty of potential that is only partially fulfilled.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Utterly infectious 1991-style noise-pop.
The notable and great bands of the late 80s / early 90s - we're talking The Pixies, My Bloody Valentine, Gish-era Smashing Pumpkins and (especially) Dinosaur Jr loom large over... Read more
Published 14 days ago by Guitar_Noise
just buy it simon baldock told me and he was right
better then the cd you last brought. unless it was this one and your buying the cd again then it will be as good as the last one you brought.
Published 6 months ago by James Hindley
The Youth of today?
Coincidence or signs of a trend: this September marked 20 years since Nevermind was released; in October I spotted chequered shirts on sale in Uniqlo. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Nicholas Lees
Flaunting their influences with pride
Much has been made of the myriad influences on Yuck's sound, and while some might deride them for this, I applaud them for not being shy about the fact that very little music can... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Ash
Grunge/Punk is back
Think Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr, Pavement, Pixies, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins and maybe a bit of Nine Black Alps and you've got Yuck. Read more
Published 11 months ago by RonJuggs
The kids are alright
Their self-titled debut is a 12-track, 45-minute workout, that hits you warm in the gut with distortion and stick-to-your-ribs melodies that you'll realise there's no subscribed... Read more
Published 11 months ago by SMcQ
Mostly really good.
I found this band whilst researching who to go to see at this years Glastonbury. I like to check out a few of the bands on the John Peel Stage playlist who I've never heard of and... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Dave
MESSY HAIR
Blimey the reviews are very serious!This is a nice cool album that wears its heart on its sleeve.There is no need to list the influences,they are obvious. Read more
Published 12 months ago by mister joe
Summer Festival
Two songs stand out - "Get Away" and "the Wall". These are heart warming, the sort of songs you want to end a summer festival with, the orange sun setting in the background. Read more
Published 12 months ago by 1way
A bit of this and a bit of that.
Now I know most popular / rock music is now a derivative of something else, but this REALLY fits that description. Read more
Published 13 months ago by boothoid
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
