reviews

Middling album or fine EP?

Japanther - Tut Tut Now Shake Ya Butt
Alternative Press - Editorial Intern on 5/18/09 @ 2:18 PM - altpress.com

[3.5/5]
Japanther evince a blend of innocence, wry wit and lo-fi clatter spread across a fuzzy, anthemic roar. Noise-pop missionaries and DIY world travelers who inspired the Death Set, Japanther's shouted vocals share a similar gleeful abandon above a hooky din of distorted bass, keyboard samples and martial drums. Their latest feels a bit slight next to their 2007 breakthrough, Skuffed Up My Huffy. Twenty minutes are consumed by two minimalist spoken-word pieces by Penny Rimbaud (formerly of Crass), leaving only six original tracks and a fine cover of the New Bad Things' "The Dirge." The poems are interesting and reflect the band's multimedia interests, but they dramatically upset the album's flow (if such things still matter to anyone). What's left, however, matches Huffy's effortless ebullience, sounding like a twee band set to hardcore. "Um, Like Your Smile Is Totally Ruling Me" suggests biking to a Clear Channel billboard and tearing it down; "Bumpin' Rap Tapes" pledges eternal friendship; and "Before The Sun Goes Down" suggests telling the truth about fear, hate, distrust and abuse. It's like Rock 'N' Roll High School never closed. (WANTAGE USA; wantageusa.com) Chris Parker

Rocks Like:
The Dont's' Inner El Camino
The Death Set's Worldwide
Deerhoof's Reveille

Official Website: http://www.japanther.com/



Comments

Post a Comment

No comments yet!



  |     |   Share   |   Print this article