Howler - America Give Up (Album) review

Welcome to part one of today's Howler extravaganza, the album review. 

These last two years we have had an influx of bands playing slightly punk, quite indie and a bit rock music with guitars, drums and a gravelly, moody voice over upbeat music. I am mostly talking about bands like The Drums, Wavves and Vivian Girls. Howler continue in this vein and, as such, are being touted as quite an exciting prospect for this year. With this album they have provided something which is more exciting than the majority of bands that have preceded them but not quite as exciting as a lot of people were hoping.

While still being the kind of music that you can play on tinny speakers and not hear a difference with imprecise, relentless twanging of guitars, uncomplicated drumming and the low, gravelly voice of today’s surf rock. However, they somehow create a sound with these limited elements that is noticeably their's, you know whose album you are listening to which wasn’t always the case with the aforementioned. Whether you can be sure which track you are listening to, is another matter. It is no Astrocoast, but it is something, and that something is pretty neat. 

There is a much talked about influence from the Strokes intertwined with the beach music. Although it is not overwhelming. Howler are a much friendlier band than the Strokes, giving the impression that they are having a lot of fun and they want you to join them. It may just be a product of the fact that Jordan Gatesmith sounds a lot like Julian Casablancas and there are guitars. On the album, that seems to be the biggest similarity. In fact, comparisons to the Strokes cannot be made at all at certain points. Black Lagoon sounds more like Sex Bob-omb than anyone else. 

As I mentioned before, it is not the album that a lot of people were hoping they would make. Howler have produced something that is enjoyable but lacks anything special to live up to the hype that they were enjoying. However, no one should allow themselves to be truly disappointed. Like with the Vaccines last year, Howler have just produced the album that they were destined to. It is their first attempt and it is one full of the music that they can play well. Lets just enjoy it for what it is, good surf rock with a smack of individuality. 

7.3/10

You can read my review of Howler's live performance at the Buffalo bar in Cardiff here.