Smut : "Tomorrow Comes Crashing"

This Cincinnati-sourced band plays a raw punk-influenced take on indie rock that pulls from the more emotional side of 90s alternative rock. Tay Roebuck has both sugar and spice to her voice, with a syrupy knack for melodies that spill over the attack of the well-layered and intentionally lo-fi guitars. It's an overproduced album that makes it seem like it's just a mic in the practice room, with guitar running through all kinds of plug-ins, to achieve a wide breadth of tones. Roebuck is said to have blown out her voice in the sessions for this album, and perhaps it came from her screaming out during "Syd Sweeney," which was released as the album's lead single. 

"Dead Air' is a dramatic contrast from the previous song, as it is strummed with almost pop ballad intentions. Robuck will get excited even when things begin to take a more building climax on a song like this and let out a brief punk scream. 'Waste Me' finds a sweetly hooky chorus serving as a fitting counterpoint to the brisk phrasing of the verses.  There is a marginally more '80s touch to the guitar tone for "Ghosts." The guitar interplay on this song is interesting and well-layered, as they start delving more into atmosphere. To the band's credit, they are not investing more in the sounds than the songs. 

"Burn Like Violet" benefits from the arrangement that gives the vocals plenty of space. The guitars ring out with more of a rock flair on this one, when not strumming the chords on the verse."Touch & Go" works off the soft-to-loud formulas 90s radio made popular, with a little more introspection in the verses. The strum of brisk guitar carries the melodies to "Crashing in the Coil" forward with hopeful speculation. There is a more Veruca Salt-like feel to "Spit" in the tension to hoe the guitars chug under the vocals. The album ends with what is the equivalent of a 90s alternative power ballad.  I will give this album a 9.5, and see how it grows on me if you are looking for 90s flavored rock with a more modern punk sneer lurking in the corner , this is worth your timr.This drops on Basyonet Records, June 27th.  

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