Yesssss! When the title track and ‘War On The East Coast’ (the latter a serious contender for track of the year) started doing the rounds, it suggested that the latest album from this eight-piece indie supergroup was going to be very, very good indeed. And so it proves.
A.C. Newman and Neko Case are probably the most well-known members of the troupe, but Brill Bruisers is very much a group effort in which all members had a hand, and the result is a glorious album that begs to be played again and again. Right from the opening ‘Bah-Bah! Bah-bah-bah-Bah!’ of the records first track, this is a warm and fuzzy glow sort of record. A.C. Newman described it as a celebration record and that’s exactly how it feels. As well as the aforementioned tracks, other excellent songs can be found here in the form of ‘Another Drug Deal Of The Heart’ and ‘Champions Of Red Wine.’
Some people still think that indie-rock is nothing but navel-gazing misery. If someone repeats that falsehood in your presence, hand them a copy of this: an effervescent joy from start to finish.
Brill Bruisers was released through Matador on August 25.
[Rating:4]
