Yuck - Yuck, a review

I must point out that I have a horrific toothache at the moment and as such might be prone to exaggerate any criticisms with this album. It is lucky then that I've decided to go ahead and review something I've been fond of for a few months now - the debut LP of 'Yuck', a band apparently from London, New York and Hiroshima. Someone less tactful than I might make a coarse 'this album is explosive!' joke. Um...anyway. Two of the founders were in Cajun Dance Party, a band I wasn't particularly a fan of.

The immediate impression I got from opener 'Get Away' was Strokes. Stroke stroke strokes. It's got that New York vibe about it that's propelled Casablancas, not to mention Sonic Youth, The Drums and Velvet Underground. It's got that same attention to detail, fetishizing killer riffs and subtly distorted sounds aimed at the hearts of indie fans worldwide. 'The Wall' has a noticeably weaker chorus and it has to be said isn't particularly interesting.



In 'Shook Down' there's a heavy Supertramp feel, some have pointed out a similarity to Teenage Fanclub (a band I'm admittedly unaware of but with the aid of YouTube would agree with) - with a somewhat romantic take on shoegazing that proves more cute than corny. 'Holing Out' keeps up with the openers in a slightly pastiche way, never really sticking out.

There's a change of sound in 'Suicide Policeman', embracing a much more Velvet Underground influence - all lo-fi and harmonising, gentle vocals that Belle and Sebastian would be proud of. It's not hard to see why 'Georgia' was released as one of their first singles, being so crafted towards a radio-friendly aesthetic. It provides one of the catchiest tunes; the hook slightly reminiscent of 'Friday I'm In Love'. And in 'Suck' there's further evidence of their knack for a good tune, evoking recent Kings of Leon in that relaxed, lo-fi and distorted atmosphere.



With 'Stutter' there's an unfortunate lack of variety or sounds that better tracks on the album haven't already covered. 'Operation' lunges out of the dark with a rich hook that's pretty much a louder Sonic Youth (specifically Teenage Riot), another of the catchy offerings on show. In 'Sunday' there's a slightly Murmer-era R.E.M. vibe, coupling harmonised vocals with their typical poppy-grunge sound, probably the most singalong-able (I need to use less fabricated words) track on the album.

There comes an instrumental track in the form of 'Rose Gives A Lilly' which, whilst lovely and melodic, doesn't really stick out as a highlight at all. The same can't be said, however, for the closer, 'Rubber'. A 7 minute opus of heavy distortion, layer upon layer of effervescent and rich sounds. It finishes what could otherwise have been mistaken as an album of tributes with a unique stamp.

To summarise, 'Yuck' is full of too many great sounds and able performances to write off. Critics would have to be against virtually every subgenre of alternative rock to not find something here that strikes a chord with them - and in providing a number of lingering tunes there's potential here for the album to be one of the slow-burners of the year.

Rating: 7.5/10
Highlights: Rubber, Georgia, Operation, Get Away, Suicide Policeman
Avoid: Rose Gives A Lilly