But some people hype a thing because it’s actually really good. Yuck
Yuck’s sound is a modern interpretation of early ‘90s indie rock (good grief, how was that almost 20 years ago?), which for them means “exactly the same songwriting, but with better guitar pedals.” People who love/loved Pavement, Superchunk, Archers of Loaf, Polvo and the like will immediately latch on to this sound, as it has all the elements of Chapel Hill 1994: heavy but not malicious guitars, a sly sense of melody, a lazy mood no matter what tempo is being played, and an effortless cast to their songwriting.
“Rubber” is an incredible slacker anthem, moseying about for seven minutes with guitars buzzing and drums plodding. It sounds glorious and vital, not laconic. “Suck” appropriates the wiry guitars of Pavement to great effect, while “Sunday” is one of the only giveaways that Yuck is British (what?!?).
“Holing Out” shows the more aggressive Polvo style, and that works, too. Yuck’s songs are not imitations, but songs that build off the base that has come before them. It just so happens that their base isn’t pop/rock or Black Sabbath, but a major piece of indie-rock history.
For a long time, it was just a given that “they don’t make ‘em like they used to.” Yuck proves that maybe that’s not true anymore. I highly recommended this for people who think of a specific sound when someone mentions “indie rock.” You know who you are.
Speaking of...
-
Wolf mentality
Jan 31, 2020 -
Raw power
Jan 29, 2020 -
Waxahatchee storms into Oklahoma City with a Tower Theatre appearance
Feb 16, 2018 - More »
More by Stephen Carradini
-
Blue valentine
May 28, 2013 -
Songs of the South
Mar 26, 2013 -
SXSW 2013: OK Sweetheart / Defining Times / Samantha Crain
Mar 15, 2013 - More »
Latest in Music Features
-
Suave Stiles
Jan 11, 2023 -
Alien invasion
Jan 11, 2023 -
Co-op makes the dream pop
Jan 11, 2023 - More »
Readers also liked…
-
Life during wartime
Sep 7, 2022
