Glassjaw - 'Worship & Tribute' (Warner)
4/5
By: Toby L
The art of understatement is a concept unbeknown to Glassjaw. With their second-LP, not only have they outdone everything they've produced thus far in their career (one mildly iffy album, specifically), but they open such proceedings in the most ear-pulverising, intrusive spitting of a sound for what feels an age... Rival Schools without the charm, perhaps?
Whatever, the class of 'Worship & Tribute' is not even up for discussion; the swirling riffage throughout, head-aching drums and bass sequences, leap-out guitar effects and harmony-fusions in the most unlikely of locations - the package is faultless, the opening full-on assault of 'Tip Your Bartender' almost as abrasive and impassioned as they come, the following 'Mu Empire' and 'Cosmopolitan Bloodless' meanwhile injecting a welcome grasp on melody. Damn it, they even give us the big turbo-fuelled epic-tunes, 'Ape Dos Mil' more than making up in heavyweight hooks and moving intricacy what it lacks for a decent song-title (just kidding, fellas).
Of the additional material, 'Pink Roses' starts off all a bit Deftones meets Rage, before taking off into a soaring bellow that Jimmy Eat World have probably produced at some point or other in the past couple of years, and there's a high likelihood that Idlewild will raise an eyebrow on the realisation that they're not the only rock-act alive in 2002 capable of equally immediate and slapdash airwaves-friendly tunes ('Radio Cambodia'); but comparisons must be banished when preparing yourself for the moody minimalism of 'Must've Run All Day' or feel-good enigma of 'Trailer Park Jesus', for - although the musical-backdrop may consistently shift - one thing remains constant all the while: Daryl Palumbo's love-it-or-hate-it wail, which hovers aloof within the mix at all times, guaranteed to pummel or, to quote the messieurs themselves Queen, blow your mind, any time.
Yet anyone that is to seriously hold any such qualms against such an obviously gifted quintet is not only missing the point - but missing out, too... Charging, relentless and intriguingly bracing, all now worship and pay tribute to rock's new heroes - and, appropriately, prepare for your jaw to drop in fine fashion.
Artists in this article: Glassjaw
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