Shin Jin Rui - Roadside Attraction EP (Fake Indie Label)
3/5
By: Matt Tomiak
Geordie trio Shin Jin Rui's low-budget production values and an unfortunate tendency to slip into sloppy part-grunge, part-shoegazer sludge compromises their efforts a little- as does an occasional tendency to sound like late 90s also-ran (but actually still functioning) band My Vitriol. They also let themselves down with the inclusion of the cantankerous 'London Stinks', a throwaway rant that seems to take as its primary stimulus Alan Partridge's embittered, Norfolk-centric ramblings. Some of their reasoning on that number seems rather peculiar, as amongst the most prominent of their grievances is their consensus on the world's largest observational wheel: 'The London Eye is not very high'. Hmm. Maybe that's just an example of regional architectural landmark envy- after all, the lads' own local feat of engineering, the relatively dinky Angel of the North, is dwarfed by comparison...
But when they're not channelling the spirit of Radio Norwich's most famous early morning DJ, they're not at all bad. The threesome nod repeatedly toward classic US alt-rock: opener 'Expletive Conquest' utilizes classic Husker Du's chunky melodies . 'Kreeper' lives up to its Sonic Youth-esque title with two and a half minutes of coruscating guitars . The languid 'Safari of Sorts' does the same sort of thing with Pavement.
The closing title track, meanwhile, draws inspiration from a more recent addition to the American college rock canon, sounding virtually identical to the fidgety, country-tinged 'Insistor' by much-vaunted Minnesotans Tapes N' Tapes. Although they stamp their own identity on it early on by name checking Huddersfield.
A mixed bag, then. Plenty of raw talent on display, but perhaps a beefier sound might aid their future cause.
Stream the 'Roadside Attraction' EP HERE.
Artists in this article: Shin Jin Rui
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