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 AMERICAN
STEEL- Jagged Thoughts (Lookout)
Imagine Bruce Springsteen playing punk-rock on Lookout Records. Still
reading? Good. Ruairi's gravely vocals are reminiscent of Bob Mould
(Husker Du-era) or Frankie Stubbs (Leatherface), albeit occasionally
falling into self-aware theatricality. The lyrics are simple yet contain
allusions and images so potent that the words take the shape of the
objects they describe. Bad songs are few and mercifully short when you do
encounter such a track. "New Religion Every Day's" creeping
multi-tiered texture evokes the Pixies with its buildup and regression.
"Rainy Day" goes from a mysterious bitter-sweet dreamworld in
the verse to a straight ahead rock chorus, then descends back into a
surreal atmospheric fog. "Two Crooks" incorporates a rock-steady
beat behind fantastic lyrics which develop as a sort-of parable of
realization around the theme of rumor and a woman being
"trouble." Less than three minutes and at least three layers of
meaning. "Turn it out" on the other hand has fairly forgettable
lyrics, but features strong music with choppy waves of guitar harmonics
and string-noise working against the punching rhythm section. All and all
an original and welcome surprise straddling rock and roll and punk,
coupled with a thoughtful underbelly.-Ryan McKay
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