Labels: City Slang
Review by: Jamie Otsa
Over the past few years Baltimore (Maryland, USA) has become synonymous with HBO drama The
Wire, a scathing indictment on corrupt politics and a descent into poverty sound tracked by a gritty
hip hop soundtrack.
Refreshingly, Wye Oak are presenting a much more pleasing angle on the cities culture, resurrecting
old school Americana Folk and blending it with a dreamy, ethereal garage rock full of background
noise and bleeps that Eels fans should be salivating over. The two piece (Andy Stack and Jenn
Wasner) have created an immensely listenable and vital soundscape of an album, positively
brimming with hooks, tricks and noise that a 6 person outfit would have been proud of. Wasner
sings lead vocals and plays guitar, while Stack plays both drums and keyboards, playing the drums
with his feet and right hand, and the bass line with his left hand. Talented little tykes.
Opening track “Two Small Deaths’ whirrs into life like a wind-up toy over a sample of ambient bar
chatter, driven by a beautifully simple drum beat and reverb heavy vocals, with a heady, swimming
crescendo.
Comparatively speaking, “Holy Holy’ buzzes with energy, showcasing a riff that sounds like Dinosaur
Jr. after one too many late nights playing through a broken amp. One of the things that really grabs
you about this album is the attention to detail in the production “” the guitar tones are warm and
exciting, with a signature sound.
Whilst Wye Oak have a clearly defined core sound, they toy with all sorts of musical genres across
the 10 songs, with Wasner’s ghostly vocals and wistful lyrics the thread that ties it all together. Mid
way through the album, “Civilian’ returns to a finger picking, stomping Americana format with a
subtle infusion of church organ and a chorus that Tarantino could have put in Pulp Fiction, whilst
stunning closing track “Doubt’ brings to mind a delicate mix of Jeff Buckley and Joan Baez.
I could ramble on for hours about every track on this wonderfully tiny sounding slice of excellent
music, but you need to hear this band for yourself. This will quickly become a wee small hours firm
favourite.