Chris Fallon
06/20/08, 02:19 AM
Mud - Yearbook
Record Label: Talking House Records
Release Date: April 15, 2008
Leg warmers, The Karate Kid and Molly Ringwald: three things that we associate with the 1980’s. Monica Lewinsky, Koosh balls and SEGA Genesis: three things we associate with the 1990’s.
Feel free to slide San Francisco transplants Mud into both, considering the band’s full-length debut, Yearbook, is a culmination of influences based in both decades. The female-fronted pop-rock band may have a name that suggests something akin to Staind or Seether (and bland titles that suggest the same), however, this group of former Guam residents come across more like a Save Ferris/Pretenders cover band (not to say that is a bad thing). Vocalist/guitarist Nikki Aclaro bobs and weaves between Pat Benatar and Monique Powell (Save Ferris) on the faster tunes and Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders) and Belinda Carlisle (Go-Go’s) on the mellower songs (that of which, are few and far between).
Yearbook seems to pinpoint a certain era in the band’s past that they are not sure of which they like more: the high-energy ska-pop of the 90’s or the new-wave pop-rock of the 80’s. The album see-saws between music styles and while it flows well, Mud need to find their foundation and set their feet in the cement before recording their next album.
Hard-rocking opener (and lead single) “Should’ve Known,” is drenched in percussion as a smooth disco-like bass line (provided by Ralph Blas) rides the harmonies like a wave on Hawaii’s North Shore. “Tomorrow” introduces a cello into the mix for a song that is a half-hearted Go-Go’s homage, yet passes due to it’s appealing new-wave influx. Aclaro is obviously having a great time on the charismatic throwback cut, “Careless,” and the sugar-rush organ-driven track (thanks to keyboardist Aris Nicholas) “Spaz,” where an Avril Lavigne-like chant of “It’s alright to be a freak,” highlights the hook. Many of the songs are incredibly fun to listen to, especially when the band drifts into horn-laden tracks near the second half of the record. “Empty Spaces” and “Apt. #4” are back-to-back Jager bomb jolts, inspiring the listener to want to kick off their Jellies or Birkenstocks (depending on the decade) and put on some dancing shoes.
The album does have it’s moments of hesitation though. “Illusion” is a mid-tempo road block right in the beginning of the disc, with petty lyrical work (“Live and love for free / No, it’s not free”). “Psycho” comes across as Evanescence doing a James Bond theme song with shades of Decemberunderground-era AFI. “Break Your Face” is a repetitive love/hate song that sounds like it was ripped from an episode of “One Tree Hill,” with an agonizing chorus hook of “I wanna break your face.” Despite the lyrical hurdles the band needs to overcome, Aclaro’s vocals are the pulse of these cuts, bringing them to life with much fervor. While her vocals might be criticized for lack of originality (after all, she does ring a few bells), the songs would not be suited for any other set of pipes.
Mud has the means necessary to set the radio dial ablaze, however, to keep from alienating an audience, the band needs to back away from their influences a touch more, while figuring out exactly what sound and style to focus on. Yearbooks are fantastic to have for reflecting, but sometimes, moving in our own direction is the best move we can make.
The Pretenders, Letters to Cleo, Save Ferris, Go-Go's
01. Should've Known
02. Tomorrow
03. Uptight (Interlude)
04. Careless
05. Illusion
06. Spaz
07. Empty Spaces
08. Apt. #4
09. Sticky
10. Psycho
11. Fallen
12. Break Your Face
13. Goodbye
Band:
Nikki Aclaro: vocals/guitar
Alan Kao: guitar
Ralph Blas: bass/vocals
Jared Cruz: drums/vocals
Aris Nicholas: keyboards/vocals
Official Site (http://www.mud.fuzz.com); Official Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/mudtheband)
Record Label: Talking House Records
Release Date: April 15, 2008
Leg warmers, The Karate Kid and Molly Ringwald: three things that we associate with the 1980’s. Monica Lewinsky, Koosh balls and SEGA Genesis: three things we associate with the 1990’s.
Feel free to slide San Francisco transplants Mud into both, considering the band’s full-length debut, Yearbook, is a culmination of influences based in both decades. The female-fronted pop-rock band may have a name that suggests something akin to Staind or Seether (and bland titles that suggest the same), however, this group of former Guam residents come across more like a Save Ferris/Pretenders cover band (not to say that is a bad thing). Vocalist/guitarist Nikki Aclaro bobs and weaves between Pat Benatar and Monique Powell (Save Ferris) on the faster tunes and Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders) and Belinda Carlisle (Go-Go’s) on the mellower songs (that of which, are few and far between).
Yearbook seems to pinpoint a certain era in the band’s past that they are not sure of which they like more: the high-energy ska-pop of the 90’s or the new-wave pop-rock of the 80’s. The album see-saws between music styles and while it flows well, Mud need to find their foundation and set their feet in the cement before recording their next album.
Hard-rocking opener (and lead single) “Should’ve Known,” is drenched in percussion as a smooth disco-like bass line (provided by Ralph Blas) rides the harmonies like a wave on Hawaii’s North Shore. “Tomorrow” introduces a cello into the mix for a song that is a half-hearted Go-Go’s homage, yet passes due to it’s appealing new-wave influx. Aclaro is obviously having a great time on the charismatic throwback cut, “Careless,” and the sugar-rush organ-driven track (thanks to keyboardist Aris Nicholas) “Spaz,” where an Avril Lavigne-like chant of “It’s alright to be a freak,” highlights the hook. Many of the songs are incredibly fun to listen to, especially when the band drifts into horn-laden tracks near the second half of the record. “Empty Spaces” and “Apt. #4” are back-to-back Jager bomb jolts, inspiring the listener to want to kick off their Jellies or Birkenstocks (depending on the decade) and put on some dancing shoes.
The album does have it’s moments of hesitation though. “Illusion” is a mid-tempo road block right in the beginning of the disc, with petty lyrical work (“Live and love for free / No, it’s not free”). “Psycho” comes across as Evanescence doing a James Bond theme song with shades of Decemberunderground-era AFI. “Break Your Face” is a repetitive love/hate song that sounds like it was ripped from an episode of “One Tree Hill,” with an agonizing chorus hook of “I wanna break your face.” Despite the lyrical hurdles the band needs to overcome, Aclaro’s vocals are the pulse of these cuts, bringing them to life with much fervor. While her vocals might be criticized for lack of originality (after all, she does ring a few bells), the songs would not be suited for any other set of pipes.
Mud has the means necessary to set the radio dial ablaze, however, to keep from alienating an audience, the band needs to back away from their influences a touch more, while figuring out exactly what sound and style to focus on. Yearbooks are fantastic to have for reflecting, but sometimes, moving in our own direction is the best move we can make.
The Pretenders, Letters to Cleo, Save Ferris, Go-Go's
01. Should've Known
02. Tomorrow
03. Uptight (Interlude)
04. Careless
05. Illusion
06. Spaz
07. Empty Spaces
08. Apt. #4
09. Sticky
10. Psycho
11. Fallen
12. Break Your Face
13. Goodbye
Band:
Nikki Aclaro: vocals/guitar
Alan Kao: guitar
Ralph Blas: bass/vocals
Jared Cruz: drums/vocals
Aris Nicholas: keyboards/vocals
Official Site (http://www.mud.fuzz.com); Official Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/mudtheband)