Quasi American Gong (Domino)
4/5
By: Stephen Maughan
American Gong, the eight studio album from the indie supergroup Quasi, is a refreshing return to their hazy punk roots, following their 2003 diversion into political rock with the mixed bag Hot Sh*t, and the disappointing experimental jazz style of When The Going Gets Tough in 2006.
American Gong sparkles with the kind of urgency and passion you might expect from a group made up of indie darlings Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney, The Jicks) and Sam Coomes (Built to Spill). Throw in the incredible talent of bass player Joanna Bolme (Elliot Smith, The Jicks), and together they have come up with at first glance appears a straight up guitar layered rock album. But it soon becomes apparent that American Gong is one of the best records of their career, with the mind expanding 'Bye Bye Blackbird' as the highlight, a ferocious assault of the senses, containing the lush harmony “bye bye blackbird flying to the sun, your money is all spent and your time is done....” followed by crazy swirling guitars and Coomes mumbling something about LSD and DMT at the end.
What really sets this above a straight up punk rock album is the lyrical magic of Coomes, who has evolved over the years into a sort of punk rock Robert Lowell (celebrated American poet of the 1950's, author of Life Studies), expressing the pure simplicity of emotions with a whiskey soaked voice over howling guitars and a wonky piano. Here's a sample lyric from 'Black Dogs and Bubbles': “Always fall in love with what makes you sad, chase the moon across the night across the stars wake up in the morning tired and cold, don't you know that she is already yours to love...but not to have and hold” - cue noise drenching guitars, that already makes me ache to see this band live.
American Gong is a record with heavy influences particularly in art, music, and of course the highs and lows of love (let's not forget Weiss and Coomes are divorced, and Bolme last year married Gary Jarman from The Cribs). American Gong is an American rock album, that feels like a final throw of the dice after a hundred disappointments and fucked up relationships. It's got hints of Dinosaur Jr., a little bit of grunge DIY attitude, and a touch of Lee Randalo-esque vocal delivery. But most of it's a dynamic punk rock album, that bursts your soul with happiness. Coomes begs “don't let them get you down, you've get to get control of your own sweet soul” on 'Everything and Nothing at All', and this eternal optimism in a world of disappointment and dysfunctional love is what, ultimately, makes American Gong so rewarding and enjoyable.
Artists in this article: Queen, Quasi
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