The O-town Scene

New Music Notes|By Mark Boshnack Yuck Serves Up Tasty New Album One of my favorite bands in recent years, with the unappetizing name of Yuck, is out with their second album, "Glow and Behold." Yuck is a London-based band that has a changed lineup, with the departure of former lead singer Daniel Blumberg, and guitarist Max Bloom taking that role. The result, with the help of producer Chris Coady, is a channeling of the energy from that original outing into an album that provides a sonic treat that is filled with the energy of such bands as Iggy Pop and the Stooges or Dinosaur Jr. It is filled with different layers of sound, including guitars, horns and vocals that constantly take the listener down unexpected paths. My favorite song is "Middle Sea," filled with the fuzzedout guitars that were a big part of their self-titled album's sound. The lyrics about impulsive love serves as a structure for a song that cooks, a pattern the band uses regularly. With the addition of some slinky rhythm guitar, a horn line and some feedback, it's a good track for anyone wanting to check out what they do best. (Word of caution, if you check YouTube, don't try the Vevo video — it makes little sense and can distract the listener.) "Rebirth" is another strong song. With its wall of sound, punctuated by guitars, drumming and lyric, it offers a glimpse of the band's more ethereal side. The sound is clearer than on similar songs on the first release, but the attitude is still there. "Lose My Breath" is another sound painting filled with the band's distinctive guitar sound, including feedback, and extra vocals. The band introduces itself on this album with "Sunrise in Maple Shade," with some repetitive but intriguing instrumental tracks that present a theme that they revisit later in the album on "Twilight in Maple Shade." It seems like a statement to the listener that this band has something to say. I might have liked to hear this track a little later in the effort, but the album ends on a high note with the title track. With its Oasis sound, and its optimistic chorus, the band pulls out all the stops for this one. I'm glad the group was able to rise above whatever personal issues caused one if its core members to split, and hope to hear from the soon. I'll be looking for "Glow and Behold" on someone's top albums of the year list. Mark Boshnack is a reporter for The Daily Star, and a music fiend. He can be reached at mboshnack@thedailystar.com. 4 O-Town Scene December 5, 2013 Yuck's sophomore album, 'Glow and Behold'

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