New Black - self titled (Thick Records)

Reviewed by Mark Oster

Sometimes a band can get caught up trying to do too many things and in the process, loses sight of what defines them. Such is not the case with New Black. The boldly named band's debut recalls more rock acts of the last twenty years than than Badresa.com has bandwidth to name, but all along, they are able to keep their own very distinct personality. Co-vocalist Patti Gran sounds like a slightly more girly Kim Gordon in sultriness, but also unleashes the occasional Siouxsie screech for emphasis. Complimenting the female counterpart, male vocalist Liam Kimball conjures Black Frances in tone and among others, Husker era Bob Mould and even Tim Kashir in attack. Sometimes sharing the lead, and taking near equal turns of taking it themselves, the two provide good foil for one another, creating some extremely memorable vocal hooks and melodies that truly grow on you with each listen. Behind them, drummer Nick Kraska provides the band's backbone with Kimball's bass, at times danceable in an (International) Noise Conspiracy fashion, at times driven in traditional punk fashion, at times showcasing a traditional garage type grind. Weaving and sitting on this backbeat, Gran's slightly beefy, overdriven guitar fills in the empty spots and give New Black their predominantly garage pop feel. Tying the whole album together and not allowing the band to deviate too far from their own personality, Rachel Shindelman's slightly eerie ever-present keyboard provides the band with a unique color. I think I've given plenty of "if you like"s within this review, but this is a worthwhile venture for anyone who enjoys a dirty indie/indie-pop sound but is tired of the same old same old,

Originally posted in Issue 1.2, September/October 2004