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Since
when does a band name themselves after a cheat code
from the original Nintendo game Contra? Since Jersey's
indie rock group Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right
B A Start decided to label themselves with quite possibly
the longest name I've heard for a band in a while. It
takes a lot of effort to mention a band with so many
syllables. But there's something about effort paying
you back in reward and satisfaction. That is what "Nothing
is #1" - Up Up's newest full length album is doing
for my ears right now. Satisfying.
Just
when it's too straight ahead for being another normal
indie rock song, they throw in an odd switch up of palm
mutes and harmonics, and a timing just slightly off
to make you think, but not enough to make an untrained
ear confused. Throughout the record Up Up's drummer
keeps me happy. It's consistently an original good beat
coming from this guy, this really sets Up Up apart from
many indie bands today. Up Up is tight, although in
some of the rock parts it's a tad sloppy but is great
in bringing a contrast between their slow pretty segments
with layered percussion, piano and strings, to bring
you back up to the rock again right along with those
half yells / half screams.
Surprisingly
the recording on this is top notch considering they
did it in their home studio. Maybe it's so good because
it took 5 months to record. I can't think of anything
that doesn't rest well with me while listening, the
only complaint I have is that I haven't seen them live.
It's a bit too diverse to just call it indie rock, but
not odd enough to call it math rock, maybe if a mathematician
traded in his calculus degree for an accounting one
that could somehow illustrate how mathy they are? What
a waste of a sentence. The only comparison I could think
of isn't even a comparison: imagine if The Reindeer
Section had an affair with Shellac and gave birth to
a child who listened to Moneen. There's no point trying
to pin a band who sounds like Up Up, I just can't do
it, maybe you can when you go buy this album. Because
you will if you know what's good for you.
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