eMusic Review 0
The early word on Yuck makes it seem as if the London-based band of 20-somethings only has Dirty thoughts on its Green Mind. While those albums (by Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr., respectively — just in case you missed a couple of Lollapaloozas in the early '90s) are alt-rock classics, riff-by-numbers revivalism is always kind of disgusting. Given the grotesque illustrations that adorn Yuck's album and, ahem, seven-inch, along with the band's first-name-only policy (singer/guitarist Daniel, drummer Jonny, guitarist Max and bassist Mariko), things aren't looking too progressive on the outside of the group's self-titled debut. Yet even as a greased-up, J Mascis-style guitar line snakes its way into opener "Get Away," you can't resist its appeal. Quite a bit more melodic than its noise-driven influences, Yuck tends to bruise its songs with bursts of dissonance and feedback (as on the "Teenage Riot"-ing "Operation"), perhaps to hide the alluring pop band lurking beneath. Daniel and Max, it turns out, are former members of teen-Britpop band Cajun Dance Party; the association seems to be one they'd rather live down. Or, as Daniel sings on "Suck": "I've had enough of being young and free." It's the tug-of-war between brute guitar… read more »
