The Notes From Underground’s self-titled debut album is the result of two years of break-ups, shoestring demos, childbirth and plenty of melody.
According to the band’s press release, the track “Mes Amis” is the sound of “Black Francis and Lou Reed anally raping each other (and neither of them minding).” If this is the case, then “Run and Hide” could be described as a chance meeting between The Strokes and Miles Davis in a Turkish bath house.Alternating lead vocals and a strong interplay between guitarists Geoff Thompson and Dallas Kruszeinicki ensures that each of the ten tracks on display offers something unique and interesting. “I Saw Her First” is definitely one of the album’s main highlights; imagine Ian Curtis improvising over the melody from “Silent Night.”
The Notes From Underground is an album worthy of attention, especially if you are a fan of such bands as Sebadoh, Husker Du and Buffalo Tom. Like current indie darlings Interpol, the band is not ashamed to draw inspiration from the well of early-’90s indie-rock. The ’80s revival stops here. There is nothing cool or ironic about listening to shit music. So ditch your fluorescent yellow leg warmers and grow out your mullet, because one of the coolest decades in rock is making its comeback with a vengeance.