Mean Creek
The Sky (Or the Underground)
Old Flame Records
8/10
The quartet, known as Mean Creek aren’t exactly pussies. In a space of a year and a half, the band composed of Chris Keene, Aurore Oanjian, Matt Sisto, and Ken Marcou have put out debut feature length album Around the Bend,and toured with the likes of The Dead Trees and Daro, among others. Not ones to take a sabbatical so soon after entering the musical fray, they have struck again with a sophomore album, The Sky (Or the Underground). It is a C.V. most bands dream of. Then again, most bands don’t put out an album like this.
The near perpetual energy of the band becomes apparent in the title track. From the start, it becomes apparent that this is nothing like the countrified debut album that endeared the Boston boys (plus one girl) to the hearts of critics. The credit goes in part to Keene, whose mastery of guitars and synth bring to mind a musical version of Munch’s The Scream than anything out today. Marcou’s drums and Oanjian’s vocals don’t hurt either. This is not your older brother’s alt-rock.
While the band has done a good job of blending the disparate genres of indie, new wave, and pop, the influence of ancestors such as Hole, Blur, and even vintage Smashing Pumpkins is audible. This is no more evident than in the title track itself, which suggests as much hints of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness as it does stated idols like the Replacements. That said, it’s not without its sleepers- “Light Into Dark” jumps into mind- but that shouldn’t deter even the most hard-core indie fan from giving it a try.
At $7.99, this is an album worth downloading into a Mac near you.
–Jack Winn