Tigers Jaw - Spirit Desire [Single]

Tiny Engines

August 3, 2009, 06:48 PM

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In America at least there is, and always will be a defiant underground music scene. This (admittedly incestuous) scene has given us some of the most critically heralded releases of the last decade and is an encouraging sign that no matter how over commercialised the industry gets, there will always be room for the little guy. Band's such as Tigers Jaw will never get picked up by a major label, partly because they would probably outright refuse it but in the main part I'd like to think they are perfectly happy with their lot in life and value artistic integrity over bullshit MTV awards.

'Spirit Desire' is an infectious, raw and pretty powerful slice of American rock that manages to meld the ease and melodicism of Pavement (singer Adam Mcllwee even sounds a bit like Steven Malkmus) with the fuzzy, lo-fi punk of early Replacements and the quirky, just off centre approach of Modest Mouse. It's a winning combination both on paper and on record with a suitably misty production and some oddly appealing, wiry keyboard sounds. It's not a song that you'll be hearing on Radio 1 in the UK any time soon

The furious hyperbole employed on the press release is a little TOO enthusiastic ("Tigers Jaw’s penetrating melodies remain more contagious than an airborne virus and the harmonies give us those sweet, sweet roller coaster highs"), but to my totally unbiased ears it just sounds like a band still finding their feet and having a hell of a time doing as much.

The B-Side (Crystal Vision) is ever better and helps this release nudge just into the mid 70's. Keep it up lads, you have a lot of promise.

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