Indie Rock
2022
When I think of 'commercial' noise pop I'm reminded of the dreadful Distortion album by the Magnetic Fields. It takes ingredients that should be good ('60s Beach Boys, twee influences), but uses it to stir up a foul brew of overly self-aware pastiche. Fortunately, Alvvays have shown that it can be done well. On their third album Blue Rev, they actually turn up the noise even further than their first couple of records, but it never feels lo-fi and scuzzy. Rather, it adds a sense of cinematic grandeur that's very pleasing to the ear.
There's an instant rush when you hear the tremolo-bend of guitar on 'Pharmacist'. The careening jangle-punk of 'Pomeranian Spinster' isn't too far away from The Libertines, complete with a rapid-fire guitar solo and noisy fadeout. Guitarist Molly Rankin and team reliably provide literate, crossover guitar pop that harkens back to the past without wallowing in it for too long. 'Belinda Says' and 'Lottery Noises' have big guitars that bring to mind ‘90s acts like Stretch Princess, The Muffs and Shallow - if you like any of those, Blue Rev should strike your fancy too.
