Review Summary: revivalism, ew yuck.
To put it bluntly, Yuck’s self-titled debut LP is a tribute album. Its whims and charms are heavily rooted in 90s alternative and indie rock, with the UK group combining a plethora of different variations of styles from this era to create a warm and inviting sound.
The band does not, however, merely replicate, it
recreates – Yuck’s presence is unique in the sense that they forge an identity without comprising themselves. While revivalism is currently the trend these days,
Yuck manages to poke its nose out in front of its contemporaries despite the fact that it adheres to this ‘revivalism’ just as much any other record.
With the
Built to Spill-esque melodicisms of ‘Shook Down’, the
Strokes-y rhythms of opener ‘Get Away’, the mid-era
Sonic Youth dissonance of ‘Operation' and even the slow-burning closer ‘Rubber’ with its
Yo La Tengo inspired fuzz and
Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream-era escapism,
Yuck really is a testament to the quality of indie rock in the 90s.Though there may seem to be a vast disparity in the styles that they are covering, Yuck blend it all together into a cohesive and engaging record; the songs shift in tempo from up-beat pop songs to lazy summer tunes, all while retaining a consistent edge.
Though it may never live up to its influences,
Yuck channels the liveliness and youthful jubilance of the 90s indie rock scene, and does it well. It’s hard to proclaim ‘masterpiece’ when you’re talking about revivalism, but rest assured that Yuck is doing everything right.
