Tru

Description

Compared to its 2013 predecessor, Am, TRU evokes less late-80s Dino Jr. and more early-90s Sebadoh: while Ovlov retains its deliciously saturated sound, the band now unleashes noise in more precise and controlled bursts, allowing its melodies to shine through the clouds of distortion more clearly. Melodic, feedback-laden tracks like "Half Way Fine" and "Spright" are as comfortable as a worn-in pair of Converse, with striking dynamic shifts and clever melodic variations that keep the listener on edge. Hartlett's lyrics aren't always discernible amidst this whirlwind of fuzz, but the despair and disillusionment in his voice remain perfectly audible. And when he can't find the right words, he and his fellow guitarist Morgan Luzzi release that latent anguish through non-verbal means, like the tsunami of guitars that closes the soaring track "Baby Alligator" in a cataclysmic fashion. - Stuart Berman, Pitchfork.com