YouNoGoDie
YouNoGoDie
***
Derby’s
YouNoGoDie have a lot of ground to make up from the off –
they peddle all too familiar frantic alternative rock and are
indebted to a long list of similar acts.
It would be all too easy for their self-titled debut to sound
mundane and run-of –the-mill, but YouNoGoDie simply refuse
to settle down to the title of ‘also rans’.
This is a grand way to announce themselves to the world.
True, throughout much of the album the bands influences are to
easily identifiable – Dischord bands like Fugazi and Q and
Not U, Cable, Pixies to name a few – but even when the album
veers into the most familiar territory YouNoGoDie pull it off
with a certain flair and manage to hold their own.
The album offers some glimpses of depth and brilliance that points
to the fact that there’s much more that this band can achieve.
‘Spanish Fly’ somehow rips off Mickey & Sylivia’s
‘Love Is Strange’ turning it into a rousing barrage
of punk rock angst.
’Torch Song’ with its rattling drums and frenetic
New York new-wave pace sounds like The Strokes if The Strokes
were good and had an ounce of emotion.
Title track ‘YouNoGoDie’ is something special, and,
whilst being annoyingly short, is an obvious highlight. It’s
subtle Latino flavour all whispered vocals, and swaying rhythms
draw the listener effortlessly in. This shows a band that are
comfortable enough with their own sound to expand their musical
remit and one that could become a truly exceptional rock act.
All in all this debut, whilst being strong in most areas, is nothing
new – it is a good album, with a brilliant album fighting
to get out.
by Chris Marks
