Exploding Head

By William Ruben Helms

With the release of their second full length album, Exploding Head, the best and most recent musical analogy that comes to mind is Interpol’s Antics released way back in 2004. In other words, for those familiar with the New York-based trio will notice very subtle changes in their sound – especially after repeated listens. On their first, self-titled effort, A Place to Bury Srangers will bring about comparisons to the Jesus and Mary Chain, the MC5, Siamese Dream-era Smashing Pumpkins, the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and the Raveonettes as most of the songs have layers of psychedelic, droning and buzzing guitars following behind Jay Space’s drumming which at times has a propulsive, mechanical and exacting precision – almost to the point of sounding much like the drumbeats on early era New Order (think of songs like “Blue Monday,” “Thieves Like Us” on Substance and you may have a pretty good idea of what I’m getting at). Ackerman’s voice is frequently a plaintive, yearning whisper which seems to be dragged under the layers of guitar fuzz and drums to float and then drown under it all. Granted, so far Ackerman’s voice only allows for a limited emotional range before sounding implausible but it works for the music.

And sure, it may be difficult to follow the lyrics – and the lyrics may not even be the point – but the music offers some auditory revelations. You can hear Ackerman’s chords being played through distortion and delay pedals to create a dreamy, drowsy effect while Mofo’s bass is often played with fat, rolling chords.

On Exploding Head you will hear the same drone and buzz, the same plaintive yearning but there’s a tighter, sleazier punk feel on songs such as “Deadbeat” and “Exploding Head,” that adds a slight tone of menace to the proceedings. With repeated listens, you’ll hear APTBS slowly breaking away from some of their major influences and creating their own unique sound. Unlike the first album, there are at least two songs which fade into one another but overall the songs seem to start and stop at will. This isn’t the old-fashioned verse-chorus-verse or the quiet, loud, quiet of Nirvana, the Pixies and others; the songs are consistently loud, followed by loud and are much more like experiencing a fugue. It may take some time to see how their music develops further but I’m excited to see what they come up with next.

Exploding Head Song List:

1. It Is Nothing
2. In Your Heart
3. Lost Feeling
4. Deadbeat
5. Keep Slipping Away
6. Ego Death
7. Smile When You Smile
8. Everything Always Goes Wrong
9. Exploding Head
10. I Lived My Life to Stand in the Shadow of Your Heart