Man, and I thought The Xx were young! At least they had the decency to start college first before wowing people with their debut.
If you've heard anything about Long Beach's Avi Buffalo, it's probably how young they are...how, as this winning album's sweet-natured liner notes imply, some of its songs were recorded before singer/principal songwriter Avigdor Zahner-Isenberg had even reached his senior year in high school.
But give this album a proper spin or two, and any cynical thoughts regarding the band's age (despite the youthful, occasionally crude lyrics) quickly give way to a realization of just how great the musicianship is on this record. The band may work in a simple pop milieu (MGMT meets The Shins seems to be a common description), but boy, can they play.
At the heart of it all is Zahner-Isenberg's subtle but incredibly versatile rhythm and lead guitar work. Even on this album's weaker tracks, I find myself totally captivated by his inventive supporting techniques, and the few times he cuts loose, as on the back half of Can't I Know?
and Remember Last Time
, the results are spectacular.To be quite frank, the extended end to Remember Last Time
might rate as the best guitar solo of 2010.But it's not all guitar flash here. This is also an album, once one adjusts to its idiosyncrasies (which admittedly does take a few listens), that is chock full of pop hooks.
Truth Sets In
, Five Little Sluts
, and One Last
are all compelling little numbers, but the real stunner is What's In It For?
, one of my favorite pop songs of the year. With its engaging melody and wonderfully offbeat but instinctive backing vocals, it's the kind of song an older band with more experience and musical self-awareness would never think to make.So if you're in the market for something quirky and breezy and fresh, with a lot of great guitar work thrown in as an added bonus, be sure to check out Avi Buffalo.
Here's hoping these kids don't grow up too fast.
Status: Solid Recommend.
Here's the video for my personal favorite What's In It For?
Component Breakdown:
1. Truth Sets In - 7
- 72. What's In It For? - 10
- 103. Coaxed
- 7
- 74. Five Little Sluts - 9
- 95. Jessica
- 7
- 76. Summer Cum
- 6
- 67. One Last - 8
- 88. Can't I Know - 8
- 89. Remember Last Time - 9
- 910. Where's Your Dirty Mind
- 7
- 7Intangibles - High
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, one of the definitive albums of the 'Aughts, but it is damn close, and what it may lack in sheer iconicness, it more than makes up for with some pricklier but way-cool instrumental touches, an even sharper sense of humor, and a stunningly self-assured sense of pace and progression. 
, a synth and lyrical reworking of The Velvet Underground's 
, claims the album's high-energy, high-laughs 
/
spot, 
the 
John Hughes soundtrack heart-wrencher, 
and 
the 
/
extended ass-shakers, and so on and so on. 
couldn't be a more obvious lift of the guitar riff from David Bowie's 
, album closer and best track 
would feel right at home on The Talking Heads 
, and the Smashing Pumpkin's 
gets a slight nod in the vocal manipulations of 
. But no matter how blatant the thievery, one of Murphy's greatest strengths has always been his ability to create familiarity by clearly referencing works of the past, but still somehow make it his own, and he remains up to the task here.
, which unfortunately, succeeds a little too well.