Les Savy Fav - Root For Ruin [LP - Aqua]

Les Savy Fav have been underground indie-rock darlings for forever. This is as much a consequence of singer Tim Harrington's eccentric onstage antics as their DIY ethos - all but one of their albums have been released on bassist Syd Butler's Frenchkiss Records. After a decade and a half, which includes a year-long hiatus, the 5-piece release a 5th studio album which may just catapult them into the big leagues. Root For Ruin comes complete with the Fugazi-inspired post-hardcore quirks of previous LSF offerings. As a general rule song structures are consciously more straightforward, except for midpoint 'Poltergeist', the result being greater accessibility for the uninitiated. There are elements borrowed from more commercially successful artists; guitars reminiscent of the Pixies, backing vocals veering towards Weezer territory and offbeat instrumentation that wouldn't feel out of place on a Modest Mouse record. Still, the band have not relinquished their edginess entirely and there are plenty of moments where you can feel the tension rising.

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Tracklist

1. Appetites
2. Dirty Knails
3. Sleepless In Silver Lake
4. Let's Get Out Of Here
5. Lips N' Stuff
6. Poltergeist
7. High And Unhinged
8. Excess Energies
9. Dear Crutches
10. Calm Down
11. Clear Spirits