Seattle Subsonic

Listen to Obits Debut

March 26th, 2009

Speaking of Sub Pop (don’t I always?), one of my—and the label’s—most anticipated records this year is the debut from Obits, I Blame You. If you aren’t familiar, former Hot Snakes and Drive Like Jehu frontman Rick Froberg is at it again, and this time he’s strapped on his gleaming guitar with three mates from Brooklyn. Spinner’s Listening Party has a bunch of curiosity albums up right now that you can stream for free, not the least of which is this *classic* boot-stompin’, dance-punk guitar record. You can also currently check out the new Röyksopp, the new Decemberists, Red Red Meat, the Ten reissue, and a bunch of old Radiohead records (?) reissues.

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Pristine and propulsive, I Blame You is not only boot-stompin’, but fist-pumpin’ rawk that recalls and highlights pioneering punk waves from decades ago—Television, Gang of Four, the Clash and the Sonics all immediately come to mind. There’s also a bit of mid-century urban Americana rolled in, the kind that’ll make you grease your hair back, slip on the shades, roll the cigs into your shirt sleeve and cause some fuckin’ mayhem. Check out that album cover for chrissakes! Rollicking motorcycle anthems, mutinous manifestos, taut, simmering rhythms, plus enough switchbacks to keep you guessing. Froberg’s familiar and factious strain, one of the hallmarks of his previous outfits, is as prevalent as the frisky Fenders (the other hallmark). This is dude-rock at its core, at its archetypal apex, at its best.

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Here’s a pretty interesting quote from Froberg on Obits’ musical MO:

“We’re not into innovation as a band,” says Froberg, who’s already done his fair share of innovating with Drive Like Jehu and Hot Snakes. “I think innovation is overrated and an overestimated quality. Anything that’s going to be original is going to happen without your control. Things that make your band sound like you, are things you wouldn’t be able to change anyway. We just go ahead and play the stuff we like, and we don’t worry about originality per se, because that takes care of itself.”

Amen, brother. I Blame You hit shelves Tuesday, March 24th.