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The fourth album by North Carolina's
Archers of Loaf is in fact their most inventive. Having already
produced three successful records amidst building an impressive indie-rock
following since they debuted in '93, the Archers have reached the
point in their careers where songwriting maturity has unseated past
accomplishment, with growth replacing expectation.
Going by past accolades the group received for each of their last
three records, "White Trash Heroes" would appear on the surface,
to be something of a calculated risk for its exploratory nature. In
much the same way as The Replacements evolved when reaching that point
for their fourth record ("Let It Be") as well, so too has A.O.L.,
only where The Replacements went more dry and acoustic, the Archers
have opted for more ambience in their sound. The songs settle less
for the distorted range of motion that was their usual accompaniment,
to set rather, a calming atmosphere that very much relates the bands'
newest motives toward future expansion.
Played with a feverish pop slant as well as technically embellished
structures, songs like the churning "Fashion Bleeds," and "Dead
Red Eyes," which sounds something like Aerosmith's "Kings & Queens"
with Jagger behind the mic, really stand out, yet defy one another
in the way they're presented. "I.N.S.," "One Slightly Wrong Move,"
and "Banging on a Dead Drum" are a reach back to their past,
with heavy doses of audio feedback, while "Perfect Time," the
atmospheric "Slick Tricks & Bright Lights," and the unexpected
calm of the closing title track, all return to the gentler pattern
that most of the record adopts.
Though very much a musical upgrade, "White Trash Heroes" is
a product that sees the Archers undoubtedly continuing to have fun
in what they do while they keep the listeners guessing. They have
committed to broadening their fan-base and are yet able to keep the
formative substance together which gave them their first critical
appeal.
Nonsensical though the name suggests-and believe me, I could have
hours of fun with this one-with their latest effort, these satisfied
backwoods-suggestive "white-trash" promoters are nothing to
snicker at.
Released By Alias Records.
Website: http://www.aliasrecords.com/
Review By Vinnie Apicella
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