Although U.K.-based band Yuck has only released one album, I’m already fed up with jokes based on their name. Reviewers have presumably quipped, “You’ll say anything but Yuck with this bands eponymous debut,” but there’s more to the band than just awful wordplay. Though buzz surrounding the band has been positive, there isn’t much to say about Yuck. There might come a day when lazy wordplay can accompany the band’s review, but for now, mediocre is the best that can be accommodated.
If bands like The Strokes or The White Stripes are your jam, Yuck is going to feel very familiar. The group shoots for a sound that’s both very laid-back and very lo-fi. Expect vocals dripping with post-production, grungy guitar riffs and a steady, if predictable rhythm section. Interviews with Daniel Blumberg, the band’s frontman, reveal a desire to recapture the sounds of ’90s indie, and the group has done so with an album that sounds very professional. Listeners immediately get the impression that they’re listening to a band that nailed down its goals, audience and sound a long time ago.
The strength of Yuck clearly lies in the group’s guitars. Picking a song off Yuck based on its lyrics alone is tough, but catchy and recognizable guitar riffs are what give the songs their character. Tracks “The Wall” and “Operation” stick with you for days, and represent the album’s highest points.
My problem with Yuck lies in its unoriginality. For a band so well-defined in its sound, it’s frustrating beyond words that there’s really nothing new brought to the table. Although the record’s guitar work is certainly good, it isn’t anything that hasn’t been done better by other bands. Lyrics are occasionally clever, but feel generally uninspired. I was, on several occasions, able to correctly TK guess? when amplifier feedback would begin and end.
If it’s decent indie rock you’re after, Yuck is certainly a viable option. Although there are problems surrounding the band’s debut, none of them lie in musicianship or execution. As an addition to a playlist or for casual listening, Yuck meets par with much bigger names. But for those looking for something bigger, Yuck probably won’t scratch that itch.
