If you thought producer Dave Fridmann was just a one trick pony, you’d be wise to consider this kick-ass thrusting beast of a record. Gone are the tender, timber algorithms of his oft-cited production work for The Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, Longwave and Mogwai and in their place is one blistering big daddy of a wall of sound. The band may be more famous in their native America for their 2002 tune ‘California’ and for actor/drummer Jason Schwartzman, but pretty soon they’re likely to be more familiar for a fairly uncompromising blend of breakneck ska, garage rock and new wave nuttiness. In fact, it may be the nuttiness and willingness to experiment that may well be the only thing in common for Fridmann.
With Jam/The Beat bass licks filling out the wide entire breadth of speaker-space and Graham Coxon guitar eccentricities wriggling around in the detail, tracks like ‘1st Things First’ provide a broadly intelligent art-house and intergalactic backdrop to the current wave of cock-burning rock phonies. In fact, it would be easier to equate this with The Clash than anything like The Strokes or even The Vines. The fact that Elvis Costello (who they’ve also toured with) says he puts them on when he wakes up speaks volumes. There’s a real and visceral edge to this album that’s generally missing from most bands at the moment. ‘You’re Not Welcome Here’ is a robust and insistent anti-anthem that spirals out from a wiry, whirlygigging guitar riff to a sexy and deafening crescendo, whilst tracks like ‘By The Bed’ and ‘Jabberjaw’ are skeletal skin and bones – simple riffs, simple tunes, but liberally peppered with hooks and ideas.
If you’re looking for the missing link between bands like The Stills, Stellastarr*, Hot Hot Heat and bands The Datsuns and The Vines, then this really is the perfect specimen. As necessary for fans of Blur as for fans of something decent.