Open Your Heart

Go draw yourself a nice, soothing bath. You’re going to need one after spending some time with Brooklyn scuzz-noise maniacs the Men. Singer-guitarist Nick Chiericozzi does his best grizzly-bear impersonation over a pile-driver attack that recalls old-school indie evildoers like Cosmic Psychos or Unsane. It’s the kind of thuggin’ audacity one would expect from a bunch of dudes who stole a Ramones album title for last year’s seethingly not-nice Leave Home. But, as with Joey Ramone himself, there’s a tender heart beating beneath the evil distortion and punishing blitz. “Candy” is vulnerable Replacements-style junk country, and the title track is a plaintive torrent: “Even if she says no/I won’t let it go,” Chiericozzi hollers. Hey, little girl, he wants to be your boyfriend – or else!

Listen to “Open Your Heart”:

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• Photos: Random Notes