Soft Pack
(Kemado)
By the end of this decade, none of the components of the term "guitar rock album" may mean anything anymore. We may not care much about guitars or rock or even albums. But if we do (and personally, I intend to, even it turns me into a raging anachronism), the Soft Pack's self-titled debut will surely be one of the great ones. This is, quite simply, one of the best and most enjoyable straight-up rock albums to come along in forever, a reason to get up in the morning, if you're looking for one, and certainly a reason to keep digging through the cultural detritus.
The Soft Pack, out of San Diego, started out as the Muslims, ran into some trouble around the name and (with a practiced eye for the inoffensive) rechristened themselves after a type of sexual aide. As the Muslims, they were primarily Matty McLoughlin, guitar player, Matt Lamkin singer guitarist, and whatever drummer, bass player combo they cold entice to play with them that week. Eventually, Dave Lantzman (bass) and Brian Hill (drums) stepped in on a more permanent basis and, now, on the evidence of this first full-length, represent something of a secret weapon for the band. The songs that jump out first - "Answer to Yourself," "Move Along," "Parasites" and most of all "Pull Out" are furiously bass driven, tightly rhythmic. There's a raffish charm in the electro-shocked raggedness of guitars, an unexpected high of 1960s garage harmonies, but mostly you are caught up in relentless forward motion, bumped along on bass and shot through with snare and cymbals.
The Soft Pack cites R.E.M. alongside Wire, Television and the Vaselines as influences, and there's definitely a sweetness hidden in their jittery, propulsion-crazed songs. "Ah C'mon" has the drone-submerged melodic-ness of "Radio Free Europe", while "Down on Loving" pushes glorious, wistful harmonies a shade too fast for self-pity, but not hard enough to erase vulnerability. The best song, though, is "Pull Out", oddly enough a call for California secession (and nothing to do with a primitive form of birth control). Anchored by a growling, exorable bass line, embellished with abrupt slashed out guitar chords, it feels like the archetype for a forward-moving garage rock anthem, something so perfect that it must have always been there. If "Pull Out" isn't my favorite song of 2010, then something very, very good is due to happen before the end of the year.
The Soft Pack is the hardest kind of band to write about, the kind that manages to outwrite and outplay the competition without employing any obvious gimmicks. You won't discover anything new about music here, or hear any weird instruments or have to figure out what frigging time signature they're playing in. It's simple, it's perfect, it's great rock and roll. Surely you've got a little room for that in your collection?
Standout Tracks: "Pull Out" "Answer to Yourself" "Move Along" JENNIFER KELLY
