Young Livers

The New Drop Era

[3.5/5]


Maybe it’s a little redundant to point out for the millionth time, but seriously, does Gainesville, Florida, produce sub-par bands, like, ever? The city’s venerable No Idea Records has been documenting local beard-happy punks in one form or another since 1985, and Young Livers’ The New Drop Era is another proud addition to that grimy canon. There’s no denying the influence of Hot Water Music and their progeny on the band, who count current and former members of Fiya, Towers Of Hanoi and Glass And Ashes among their ranks. “The Small Hours” kicks off this party like Small Brown Bike jacked on too many Hellacopters records, and the rest of the songs follow suit. There’s enough gravel-voiced ferocity to mark this band as devotees to their hometown sound, but it’s matched by a garage-rock instrumental intensity that keeps things from getting unoriginal. (NO IDEA; noidearecords.com) Sam Sutherland