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Sam Champion

Heavenly Bender  Hear it Now

RS: 3.5of 5 Stars

2008

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This Brooklyn quartet, who share their name with the Good Morning America weather anchor, copped Stephen Malkmus's deadpan delivery and elliptical lyrical approach on their debut, 2004's Slow Rewind. They keep up that trend on their sophomore effort, a slightly more freewheeling affair that overcomes its lack of innovation through sheer youthful exuberance. Switching effortlessly between a raucous, roadhouse boogie and slower, moodier numbers, the group plows through 12 cuts in just under 40 minutes. "Be Mine Everyone" grows from a rickety blues shuffle into a swaggering monster. The lurching "You Can't Stop," with its monotone vocals, sounds like Built to Spill fronted by a chorus of dead-eyed extras from a George Romero flick. "We Will Awaken" is the crushing hangover after yet another late night, with singer/guitarist Noah Chernin crooning like a man who can't quite wipe the sleep from his eyes. Lyrically, the band remains as obtuse as ever: "Direct" finds Chernin repeatedly telling his girl, "You don't bring butter, baby." But no matter: in the time it takes to ponder what that phrase means, the guitars rumble in and carry the tune to a thrillingly rowdy climax.



ANDY DOWNING

(Posted: Sep 5, 2008)

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