Well, well, well. You Am I on an indie label. Props, fellas. What a funny old world. Would this release have been anywhere near as adventurous if not for this?
Well, well, well. You Am I on an indie label. Props, fellas. What a funny old world. Would this release have been anywhere near as adventurous if not for this? Who cares. It is a curious beast, though, album number nine – a self-titled venture, at that – and while there’s plenty of vintage Rogers & Co. to be found here, I’m proud to say that much of what makes this album a worthwhile venture are the less familiar moments.
Rogers adopts an almost apologetic timbre on opener We Hardly Knew You, before its subtle lolling rhythm and wavy guitar patterns give way to a more rollicking and, uh, ‘classic’ middle section. When it all slows back down at the end of the tune, and Rogers comes back to the main wafting refrain, “How can we march so blissfully on / Knowing everyone loved is on loan,” all the tepid business at the beginning does make more sense.
The Good Ones is a snazzy little number which probably has the most in common with You Am I’s back catalogue. That this kind of rock ‘n’ rolling nugget is a rarity speaks volumes about the rest of these songs. The line “Chicks dig scars, except the ones surrounding hearts” will have you chuckling. There are some very tender high harmonies here, too.
Stick around ’til the end of the record for the surprisingly pleasing one-two finish of Trigger Finger and Let’s Not Get Famous . ‘Surprising’ because they’re standouts in the most unlikely way: Trigger Finger is all sexy strut and lurvely vocal work, coupled with a fucking cracking guitar solo; Let’s Not Get Famous has all the trappings of a very, very slow Sunday morning wake-up, with a sentiment I’m sure you’ve picked up from the title.
I won’t lie to you: You Am I are less dangerously spontaneous these days, but as long as they keep finding ways to remain interesting while bypassing this fact, you’ll keep on being treated to solid efforts like this one.
You Am I’s self titled album, You Am I is out now through Other Tongues
