Audacity
Butter Knife
Suicide Squeeze (2013)
It didn’t take long for Mellow Cruisers to appeal. Butter Knives, the follow-up from California’s Audacity, though, seems to be more of a grower.A band quick-summed-up as power-pop (though that description lacks), the new record seems to miss that one-two punch, earworm aspect. Instead, the songs are a bit more complex, less predictable, and more varied from starter “Couldn’t Hold a Candle” through ender “Autumn.” It’s hard to pinpoint just where Audacity is going which, from an artist’s perspective, is far from an insult. The songs are well written, well varied, and well performed. They just don’t have that authoritative kick that was on its predecessor.Audacity really draws their distinction in their vocal delivery and in the roughshod take on pop structure. When the songs are a bit cleaner in production, as they are on this record, it loses a little heart in the process. It’s not just a production issue, though. Matt Schmalfeld’s wavering crackle of emotion is subdued throughout this record in favor of a calmer approach. When he lets that wanton emotion through, as in “Couldn’t Hold a Candle” and “Watered Down,” the songs benefit. When the focus is more on a steady tone, as in “Hole … Read more
Various Artists
I Need You Bad
Polyvinyl (2013)
Due to its liberal usage around ye olden music-critiquing biz, “garage rock” is one of those dicey descriptors that, should … Read more
La+ch and Dustbuster
Hunter
Independent (2014)
It’s safe to say that everyone’s already getting a head start on choosing the song that will be most played … Read more
