The Uglysuit
The Uglysuit (Quarterstick)
By Emily Elhaj
Published: September 25th, 2008 | 9:00am
The brothers Crosby and Colin Bray, Matt Harrison, Jonathan Martin, Israel Hindman, and Kyle Mayfield may have found the formula for sentimental indie-folk perfection. Blissful musical landscapes, powerful lyricism, and sweeping instrumentation make up this Oklahoma group's debut effort on the Chicago-based Quarterstick Records.
Effortlessly examining the possibilities of what indie rock can be, the Uglysuit manages to create a unique album that is more at home in your playlist with Conor Oberst, A Silver Mt. Zion, Ben Kweller, and Iron & Wine (Uglysuit is coincidentally on tour with the latter) than rockers Spoon or the wordy Dan Bejar of Destroyer. A positive attitude seems to be a prerequisite to inclusion in this group, and the music the band creates is as optimistic and pretty as their youthful innocence.
At times, the emphasis that was once placed on lyrical content is forgotten, and allows the band to let loose into sprawling instrumental movements. That is precisely the case with the last track, "Let It Be Known." With this track, the album comes to a close and is rounded out splendidly. It is the musical equivalent of pressing your face close to the glass ceiling of the atmosphere and fogging up the surface with anticipation of breaking through to the other side. The Uglysuit has created some amazing escapism music — escaping Oklahoma, maybe the United States, or perhaps the world all together. Wherever they are headed, this band seems to be preordained for great things.
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The Uglysuit’s official site
The Uglysuit’s MySpace page
Issue #29
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