LAUREL CANYON – VICTIM

The irony isn’t missed here being that Laurel Canyon is from New York, but I’m still trying to figure out the connection the band has made either with the film, the television series, or the legacy of the city itself. The group is made up of Nick Gillespie (guitar, vocals), Serg Cereja (guitar, vocals), Dylan Loccarini (bass), and Dylan DePice (drums) with Nick and Serge appropriating lead songwriter roles. Victim, Laurel Canyon’s 5-song EP release is the group’s debut offering and songs are filled with noise, feedback, and sonic exploration. It’s a lot to submit to in just 5 songs.

Laurel Canyon offers up unbridled energy captured within these tracks and the delivery here is relentless. The band plays with feedback melody opening “Daddy’s Home” as it eventually drifts off to allow the band to play with dynamics, shouted lyrics, and pummeling rhythms, eventually finding footing between feedback and energetic guitar notes. Here though, the dual vocals distract at times, never allowing one voice singularity. The slower edgy title track seems to take its lead from laconic Cobain-esque delivery within its song structure and vocals. It would be a problem if it wasn’t done well. The band’s playful movements slide easily throughout the track, gliding around an inviting melody. Moving further into the release, there’s clarity in the band music and we hear it in the group’s progression. “Shove” is much clearer vocally as the band pummels through the song, and by the closing “Sade,” the dynamics are powerful and at their strongest.

Victim was produced by Bryce Goggin, who’s worked with groups like Pavement and Hello Mary in the past, Not that it makes any difference; maybe it does but in the end, Victim is really a fucking good release. If Laurel Canyon is able to rough out its edges, the band has the ability to be fucking brilliant.

DRIVE LIKE JEHU – “BULLET TRAIN TO VEGAS” B/W “HAND OVER FIST” 7″ (Merge)

While these aren’t new songs by the legendary Drive Like Jehu, the good folks over at Minnesota’s Down In The Valley sent that new limited white marble 7″ of “Bullet Train To Vegas” b/w “Hand Over Fist.” Of course, these songs are classic DLJ who runs through the tracks with the utmost ferocity and vigor. Dual guitars work as one, and the rhythm of “Bullet Train To Vegas” is unstoppable like Silver Streak Express! Subtle harmonies abound too. “Hand Over Fist” is a steady freight train of a song; you know it’s coming and nothing’s going to stop it even if it is moving at static speeds. The warmth of the fresh new vinyl, yeah, that feels good.