MT. ST. HELENS VIETNAM BAND | WHERE THE MESSENGERS MEET
Seattle’s Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band returns less than two years after their self-titled debut with more mysterious, raucous indie rock. Hints of Grizzly Bear, Modest Mouse, and the Black Keys abound, but somehow this quintet, led by married couple Benjamin Verdoes and Traci Eggleston, finds a way to make each song their own. The frantic beat, courtesy of Verdoes’ adopted 15-year-old brother, gives a slightly uncomfortable tension to each song while aggressive guitar and punchy vocals by Verdoes add a common stable element to Where the Messengers Meet. In each song, something pops out as being particularly good, but not every song feels satisfying. In fact, the strongest tracks are the simplest ones — “Not To Know” has a steady, looping cello hook that keeps this song moving forward and “George Clark” is a slow rambler that is a welcome chill-out track to close the album. – Written by DBosket
SIMILAR | Modest Mouse, Local Natives, Pomegranates, Grizzly Bear, Tokyo Police Club, Wolfe Parade
posted by JFelton, September 8, 2010
MT ST HELENS VIETNAM BAND | MT ST HELENS VIETNAM BAND
DEAD OCEANS
Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band recalls both Modest Mouse and Wolf Parade with its fraught melodic sensibilities and intense vocals, creating a solid musical lineage influencing the band’s debut. Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band validates the hype surrounding the band with a wonderfully fuzzy, off-kilter indie-rock record with moody vocal ranges, spastic guitars and lyrics with depth typical of a more mature band. Co-produced by Scott Colburn (Arcade Fire, Animal Collective) their album drops with Dead Oceans on March 10th.
posted by JFelton, March 2, 2009
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