| Austin
American Statesman by Chris Riemenschneider | |
Without
the vulgarity and often cutesy mayhem of its live shows to rely on, local
sonic-punk foursome ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead was forced to
put up and shut up when it came time to record a debut album. It's the best thing that could have happened to the band. As ambitious and inventive as its name, Trail of Dead's self-titled CD (in stores today) only threatens to leave a trail of reborn indie-rock fans in Austin. The Trail's blazers Conrad Keely and Jason Reece - one sits behind the drum kit while the other plays guitar and sings, the they swap - keep the ol' switcharoo trick hidden on the album, making way for a tight, even-keel sound and more congruity than the group has shown before. With production help from Sixteen Deluxe guitarist Chris Smith, songs like "Fake Fake Eyes" and "Prince With A Thousand Enemies" offer a dark, maniacal tone and a Sonic Youth-like wall of sour feedback that's equally hair-raising and beautiful. Throughout the album, the rhythms are relentless, and especially on "Ounce of Prevention", there's an underlying, crotch-driven, Stooges kind of swagger, which keeps the music from sounding too artsy. There is a certain surreal, ambient edge to the album, too. The hyper, noisy climax of "Novena Without Faith", for instance, edges on space-rock. It's, ahem, a blast. The seven-minute closer, however, is a little slow-going, but by that time, it's clear: You will know Trail of Dead best if you buy Trail of Dead's album. Rating: *** 1/2 | |
