CD Reviews

Squarehead | Yeah Nothing

Richter Collective (2011)

By LIZ PELLY | September 13, 2011

3.5 Stars

Amidst Dublin's vibrant musical underground of DIY labels like Popical Island and Richter Collective, this debut long-player by surf-pop trio Squarehead is one of the city's most anticipated 2011 indie releases. Following the band's buzzed-about singles and spots opening for Titus Andronicus, Male Bonding, and No Age, Yeah Nothing is brimming with hit after hit of youthful punky power pop. With vocalist/guitarist Roy Duffy's Brian Wilson falsetto and sticky one-liners, plus bassist Ian McFarlane's harmonies, and Ruan van Vliet (of Tieranniesaur and Groom) on drums, Squarehead are a Wipers-inspired take on Phil Spector sensibilities. All 12 tracks — songs about girls, boredom, rock and roll, whiskey-induced adventures — could be singles. Sixties classics shine clearest on the chugging bass and "ooh-ahhs" of "Save Yourself," whereas stand-out track "Circle" shows off tight drumming, flat-affect harmonies, and the best hook of the bunch. The anthemic chorus and catchy handclaps of album closer/first single "Fake Blood" initially put Squarehead on Ireland's indie-rock map early last summer, and the hazy, laid-back vibes of "Get Light" might recall 2009's buzzy "beach pop" explosion. But of all the beach-pop records to surface since then, Yeah Nothing — over a year in the making — ranks high amongst the most thoughtful and timeless.

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Topics: CD Reviews , Music, Ireland, Dublin, More

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[ 11/26 ] "Benefit For MC Exposition" @ Church of Boston

[ 11/26 ] Bo Burnham @ Wilbur Theatre

[ 11/26 ] "Occupy Live Music Tour" @ Paradise Rock Club

ARTICLES BY LIZ PELLY

AFTER THE OCCUPATION | November 16, 2011
From Oakland to New York, city police departments and their elected overlords are crushing lawful Occupy movements in their midst.

OUT: PARASOL AND INKY SKULLS SOUNDTRACK THE ANARCHIST BOOKFAIR KICKOFF PARTY | November 16, 2011
"This is a song to put on a mixtape for the next person you have a crush on," laughed Parasol singer/guitarist Lily Richeson last Friday night before launching into "Firecracker," a super-cute two-minute love song that balanced big distorted riffs and driving drums with doo-doo-doo's and baa-baa-baa's.

HOW MICROFUNDING IS FEEDING THE CREATIVE ECONOMY | November 14, 2011
Erika Hess showed up at Voltage Coffee & Art in Kendall Square last spring with an idea: she wanted to combine art and activism to teach people about urban gardening. But first, she needed funding.

PAPERCUT ZINE LIBRARY & THE LUCY PARSONS CENTER RE-OPEN | November 09, 2011
Zinesters perused hand-stitched books and photocopied pamphlets on topics ranging from punk politics and parenting to feminism and freeganism, while local musicians played folksy tunes on acoustic guitars, mandolins, and cello between floor-to-ceiling shelves of used books.

QUILT STITCH SONIC GOLD | November 03, 2011
The first track on Quilt's homonymous debut — out this week via Brooklyn label Mexican Summer — is "Young Gold," a three-minute cinematic jam stitched with the band's signature swirling group vocals, temperate drumming, and a sophisticated patchwork of '60s-twangs and Eastern-inspired tones.

See all articles by: LIZ PELLY

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