My Vitriol
"Pieces" CD1
(Infectious)
review by Ruth
(Pieces/Safety Zones & Crumple Zones/Static)
The fourth single from My Vitriol (counting their initial Radio hit "Always
Your Way")
slows the pace down a little from previous releases. Guitars like rippled sheets
of
metal shivering in the cold wind outside condensation edged windows, and the
sound of
a relationship cooling in a yawning morning. A hint of Eugenius, and skillful
grunge
tinged manipulation; but while My Vitriol's less frenetic side is nice enough
fare,this
isn't the best choice of singles from My Vitriol's arsenal, and you can't help
but
thinking they'd get more from this by re-releasing the wonderful
"Always..", or
airing one of their punchier tracks in the wake of their fantastic performances
at
Leeds and Reading, especially in their current tour-anywhere-with-a-pulse mood.
One
of those songs which are perfect for mooching around in the flat, but if you
want
something to jump around to, try 'Losing Touch' or 'Cemented Shoes'
instead.
4/5
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Nerf Herder
"My EP"
(My Records)
review by Ruth
(Hotel California/Love Sandwich/High School/
Bridge Under Troubled Water/The Sportsman Bar/I've got a boner for Christmas/
Come Back Down)
The likes of Blink 182 haven't done much for the image of American punk as the
preserve
of pubescent boys who have just started noticing the size of the tits of the
girl next
door. And for those of you who've already made up your minds before you pick
this up
in the record store, a track called 'I've got a boner for Christmas' is hardly
going
to stop you putting it back down again. OK, fair enough.
Get over it.
Most people will remember Nerf Herder most fondly as the guys who gave us the
theme tune
to Buffy The Vampire Slayer (*yawn*), with it's infectious hookline inspiring a
generation
to air-guitar in front of the TV at 6pm every Tuesday. And this latest offering
is no less
tempting. Take your pick; the gorgeous harmonies and sizzling guitar of
"Hotel California"
(no, not that one!), or the pacey bassline of "Bridge Under Troubled
Water". Yet it all
sits with sharp observation about the clash of ideals with real life,
vegetarianism and
Mcjobs, faded glory and self-destructive lust... Yeah some of it's in the guise
of
tongue-in-cheek sports anthem of the old guard "The Sportsman Bar",
and the punkers
alternative school song, erm, "High School". Fuck it, this is ace
stuff. They've even
finally got round to releasing live favourite, the scuzzy, funky Smash
Mouth/Offspring
pop rap of "Love Sandwich", the song they said they'd never release
(Probably because
how they could have got through that without laughing their asses off is beyond
me; by
"Love Sandwich" they don't mean one where the bread is cut into a
heart-shape...).
God knows how most of us were naïve enough not to find out more as soon as the
first
episode of Buffy was over. With riffs that hiss like they've been flame grilled,
basslines
like fire, and a tongue like tabasco this is one band who don't deserve to be
remembered
for a one minute snack.
4/5
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Preston School of Industry
"Whale
Bones"
(Domino)
review by Ruth
After Mr Malkmus' post-Pavement output, we now get to hear the first fruits of
the
other half of Pavement's creative hub. Or something. Spiral Stairs has gone for
a more
mellow take on things with this summer afternoon jam of chiming guitar and hot
tarmac
roads. It's got the taste of the relief of a weary smile, but when you don't
quite know
what you're smiling for.
4/5
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