Retribution Gospel Choir – 2 (Sub Pop)
4/5
By: Thomas Hannan
You sometimes wonder whether Alan Sparhawk regrets calling his other band ‘Low’. Something in the name meant that they could only ever really make the music they make – even though recent experiments with big rock production (The Great Destroyer) and albums practically devoid of guitar entirely (Drums and Guns) have suggested that the slowcore template they helped define isn’t stuck to as rigidly as it once was, Low’s defining element will always be a void where other bands store pace and volume, filling the gap with an otherworldly beauty and tomblike sorrow instead.
Thing is, Alan Sparhawk wants to rock out. And shout. And throw himself around a stage. And he wants you to watch, and go subsequently berserk. That’s where side project Retribution Gospel Choir come in – they’re Al’s chance to unleash his inner Crazy Horse. And this horse is one mental bastard.
2 is essentially a refinement of RGC’s already fine debut effort, an album on which the songs are stronger, and the production is even more unashamedly brash. It’s not that there’s not subtlety here – indeed, Sparhawk’s way with a guitar solo or deft turn of phrase are all about nuance – but it’s certainly not a shy record in any sense. Whereas we’re used to him penning ditties to sing quietly to one’s children whilst waiting for the emergency services to arrive, 2 is where Sparhawk aims for the stadiums. But whilst a fist pumping, “how you doin’ all the way at the back?” Alan (yes, there are other people in this band too, fine musicians to a man, but who really cares?) might not be an image that immediately sits too comfortably with someone only familiar with his work in Low, this new, shoulders back, deep breath stance of his has birthed some of the finest songs of his distinguished career.
“It’s called ‘Classic Rock’ because it’s classic, and it rocks”, said Roz in one episode of Frasier. And Sparhawk seems to sympathise, taking cues from the great American lighters in the air songbook as his starting point. ‘Hide It Away’, ‘Working Hard’ and ‘Bless Us All’ in particular come across as the songs Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young wish could have made it on to the horrifically underwhelming Working On A Dream or Fork In The Road LPs respectively, Alan’s songs being a trio of frankly astounding rock and rollers that, to completely appropriately reference Kiss’s ‘God Gave Rock ‘N Roll To You’ restores one’s faith in loud guitars. And if the bit where ‘Something’s Going To Break’ finally kicks in to full colour after its deliberately lo-fi beginnings doesn’t knock your socks off, you’re probably the kind of person who doesn’t own any socks. Sort your life out.
In fact, you could probably sum the whole thing up under the phrase “no more mister LOW-fi”! Heh heh! Heh?
Artists in this article: Retribution Gospel Choir
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