Minneapolis quartet Howler have grabbed a shed load plaudits in the ‘Ones to Watch in 2012’ polls and lists that have emerged in January and by releasing an album this early in the year, it bodes well that the ‘hype’ machine will not take another victim - see Mona or (Viva) Brother in 2011. Howler are a young band from America who are oozing with a cool ‘we don’t give a shit’ attitude, a band signed by Rough Trade Records apparently on the basis of an unsolicited demo…a story that sounds very familiar? That would be the rise of fellow American indie rock saviours The Strokes, who released debut album Is This It just over ten years ago in similar circumstances. Critics were ever so quick to hail Howler as the new Strokes. So, does this debut album really have the potential to emulate the New Yorkers and more importantly does it live up to the hype.
‘Beach Sluts’ a pleasantly titled opener that ambles effortlessly into a riotous rant about teenage existence, it’s kind of like a really twisted love song with fast paced lyrics full of angst and frustration. It is a good starting point for what is to come for the rest of the album. ‘Back to the Grave’ incorporates the doo woop backing vocals and a brilliantly catchy guitar riff in the middle of a song that sounds like fellow Americans The Drums if say another band member was to just up and leave! Their EP This One's Different gave a good idea of what to expect from this album and the title track from this EP makes it on to album. ‘This One’s Different’ is a cracking effort at a post-punk song full of sharp, unrefined guitar riffs that support the vocals of the much talked about frontman, Jordan Gatesmith. At just 19 years old Gatesmith claimed that he and his band just “wanted to make a dirty rock ‘n’ roll” album, a sound that they had not heard for a while. His almost arrogant attitude is present no more evidently than in ‘America,’ an ironically patriotic track where Gatesmith claims that “He wants to be an American” throughout the song.
‘Too Much Blood’ is the fifth track of the album and after the frenetic start, the slower nature that engulfs the song gives you a little respite. It showcases another side to this guitar band demonstrating that they don’t just make frantic, guitar heavy numbers. Accompanied by simple, but effective, steady thumping of the bass drum its the vocals and keyboards that take centre stage. ‘You Like White Women, I Like Cigarettes’ from the This One’s Different EP has been relabelled as ‘Wailing (Making Out)’ on the new album and this two minute bundle of energy is one of the best tracks on the album. Its short, sharp and to the point, the subtle keyboard part brings the whole track together and the hoarse screams of Gatesmith sound like Julian Casablancas, if he exchanged chewing gum for barbed wire. On the Strokes front, ‘Pythagorean Fearem’ (incredibly good track name) genuinely sounds like it could have been taken from Is This It if Iggy Pop had got his hands on. The sound is nothing new but Howler do not advertise themselves as producing a revolutionary sound, they are just making quality guitar music.
‘Told You Once’ is lyrically brilliant. The standout 'I wish that there was something I could do, because I hate myself more than I hate you' line is just perfect is summing up the vibe that Howler give off. Gatesmith’s gruff vocal range means that these lyrics are sung with meaning, you can actually feel and believe every word that comes out of his mouth. After that lyrical treat comes, the standout track from the album, ‘Back Of Your Neck’ a song that is nothing short of fantastic. From the 50's throwback guitar riff that opens the song to the sing-along wails of joy that will make this song so iconic, the track has the potential to become the anthem of the summer festivals. Just when you think the anthem is coming to an end it comes back into life with a closing section to rival the best around. ‘Free Drunk’ is embedded in distortion with a surf-punk element that just seems to be creeping back into the music scene, a punk theme that is ever so present in closing number ‘Black Lagoon.’ The final track sees Gatesmith spell out the title of the track, but even that is sung in a unique and catchy way as his raucous voice bellows “B-L-A-C-K-L-A-G Ohhhhhhh Ohhhhhhh N” during the course of the song.
Howler…the second coming of rock ‘n’ roll music? Possibly not but in America Give Up they have produced a great album which injects hope back into the apparently doomed guitar band genre.
4/5
Standout Tracks:
Back Of Your Neck, Wailing (Making Out) and Told You Once.
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‘Beach Sluts’ a pleasantly titled opener that ambles effortlessly into a riotous rant about teenage existence, it’s kind of like a really twisted love song with fast paced lyrics full of angst and frustration. It is a good starting point for what is to come for the rest of the album. ‘Back to the Grave’ incorporates the doo woop backing vocals and a brilliantly catchy guitar riff in the middle of a song that sounds like fellow Americans The Drums if say another band member was to just up and leave! Their EP This One's Different gave a good idea of what to expect from this album and the title track from this EP makes it on to album. ‘This One’s Different’ is a cracking effort at a post-punk song full of sharp, unrefined guitar riffs that support the vocals of the much talked about frontman, Jordan Gatesmith. At just 19 years old Gatesmith claimed that he and his band just “wanted to make a dirty rock ‘n’ roll” album, a sound that they had not heard for a while. His almost arrogant attitude is present no more evidently than in ‘America,’ an ironically patriotic track where Gatesmith claims that “He wants to be an American” throughout the song.
