Yuck: Yuck

Yuck
Yuck
Rating: Grrrr

Back in the early 2000s and Interpol came onto the scene, you couldn't get more than 2 sentences into a review or commentary before someone mentioned how their sound was influenced by Joy Division. I am sure for Interpol it became more than annoying to constantly have to deal with those comparisons. Luckily for them, even though there were some (in my opinion, minor) Joy Division qualities to their sound (to be honest they drew from more post-punk influences than just Joy Division) they had their own distinct approach to their sound, which allowed them to transcend the comparisons. UK buzz band Yuck is similarly saddled with comparisons to their heroes, however, in this case, instead of post-punk bands such as Joy Division, their albatross around the neck are the 90s alterna-guitar bands like Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth, Pixies, Pavement, Jesus and Mary Chain, et al. See, I made it 4 sentences in before I made the comparisons, must be a record! There really is no way to sidestep these comparisons I'm afraid. The band definitely wears their influences on their sleeves, but unlike bands who are mere parrots, Yuck uses those sounds merely as a base, building their own unique take on driving, fuzzed out, effects heavy guitar rock. And with the band members barely into their 20s, it is amazing how fully formed that sound is.

The band's bread and butter are driving rock songs filled with explosive guitar parts, that has to have the band making mincemeat out of their effects pedals. From the blistering "Get Away"



the ear bleeding fuzzed out "Holing Away"



and the Sonic Youth-esque droning "Operation"



the band knows loud well. While these are some of my favorite songs on the album, what really takes the band out of merely proficient into the area of amazing is in the quieter moments. What is wonderful about Yuck is that the band is willing to slow things down, try different styles, and even using unique instrumentation.

The delicate "Suicide Policeman" even has a sweet bridge featuring horns and xylophones straight out of Lawrence Welk.



"Stutter" takes a page from the Pavement slacker oeuvre:



"Georgia" even has an alt-country feel to the chorus:



What is truly going to make Yuck a band worth watching is that, based on this album, they are not satisfied sticking with the identical sound throughout. The album meanders, takes chances, is not afraid to do the unexpected. This is most evident in the final two tracks. "Rose Gives A Lilly" is a gorgeous instrumental full of echoing, shimmering guitar that veers ever slightly towards the post-rock sound of Mogwai:



which then segues into "Rubber" which is 7 minutes of slow building fuzz guitar, erupting into a maelstrom of feedback that would make Jesus and Mary Chain grab their earplugs:



In the end, comparisons with other bands are unnecessary, as Yuck is not a 90s alt-rock cover band. It's as futile as comparing The Rolling Stones to their blues influences, or, as I mentioned earlier, Interpol with their post-punk forefathers. Yuck made wear their influences out in front, but they wear them proudly and with their own innate style. Yuck is a fantastic debut album, one that will long linger in your head.

Rating Guide

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top albums of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and peaks one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been trimmed or polished.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.