Album, Single and EP Reviews


 

 

  Outlaw b/w Trial and Correction, Beach Hut by Le Reno Amps


Outlaw b/w Trial and Correction, Beach Hut cover art

Artist: Le Reno Amps
Title: Outlaw b/w Trial and Correction, Beach Hut
Catalogue Number: Drift Records
Review Format: 45
Release Year: 2009



You've got to give it to Le Reno Amps. They just don't quit. Turn your back for a moment and they'll blast you with another dose of their cleverly disguised power pop. Cleverly disguised? Take their single "Outlaws" as an example. On the surface, it's a rollicking little song driven with almost ferocious intent but they casually deploy words like hand grenades. In fact, now that I think about it, they are too intelligent to be casual. This is planned musical carnage and none the worse for all that.

There are a couple of other tracks on the compact disc that "Outlaws" arrived on. Firstly, there is "Trial and Correction". It's the kind of song that all those haircut encumbered indie rock bands should aspire too as it has not only those so essential power chords but also an embarrassingly hummable melody. "Beach House", on the other hand, is something of a throwaway ballad but in the best Johnny Cash style.

In summary, these songs are far smarter than they pretend to be. That's nice of Le Reno Amps - they pretend to be dumb so they don't make other bands look bad.

 


www.lerenoamps.com
Reviewer:
Review Date: February 9 2009