With only two full-lengths to their name, Seattle’s Unnatural Helpers have already made a name for themselves as dependable purveyors of greasy, good-time rock n’ roll.
There’s elements of the city’s classic muddy vibe on tracks like Toil and Stiff Win where the four-piece take cues from Mudhoney and other 90’s-era affable sludge, but for the most part, Land Grab is an agreeable slice of riff-based camaraderie. It’s not the most adventurous of listens, with only three of the 13 tracks clocking in at over two minutes. Then again the ridiculously, rollicking album closer, Julie Jewel weighs in at just under ten minutes. It’s clear that Unnatural Helpers enjoy a party and have no intentions of ever letting it stop.
For all that Land Grab lacks in originality, instead it manages to imitate with near flawless poise. When It Can Only Go Right is a surf rocker’s dream while Hate Your Teachers was written just for the weekend punks. There’s a slight expansion on the songwriting from Cracked Love & Other Drugs – their 2010 release – but nothing out of the ordinary. Each track is remarkably tight, and one gets the feeling that these tracks have benefited from hefty exposure on the road.
Land Grab might not set any examples for its sonic originality, but with tracks that move this swiftly, it doesn’t have to. Put it on and don’t think too much about its social implications; this is a Friday night record at its finest.
BY JOSHUA KLOKE
Best Track: When It Can Only Go Right
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: Moody, Standard and Poor OBITS, anything on Goner Records
In A Word: Party!
