Wye Oak

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The 2012 Line-up

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Wye Oak
Strangers 7"

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Wye Oak sound like a band from the 90s. And I mean that in the best possible way. The duo from Baltimore employ many of the best sounds from the great era of alternative rock. Lead singer Jenn Wasner can wail with the compelling bombast of Kristin Hersh or Kim Deal, but is not afraid to sing with a voice that can float and waiver. Her gaunt guitar work recalls another Pixie, Joey Santiago. Drummer Andy Stack keeps time with the sort of dangerous lurking precision that recalls a young Phil Selway. Wye Oak’s music em- ploys walls of noise and fuzz that wink at Pavement, and angular melodies that stare Sonic Youth right in the face.

The band’s new LP, Civilian, released this year, is experimental and atmospheric, and has garnered the band no small amount of critical praise, including mention on several end-of-the-year best lists (the album was the A.V. Club’s top record of 2011). They spent every bit of 2011 touring behind Civilian both in the States and abroad, and played close to 200 shows.

Their live show is full of spectacle and wonderment. Stack has learned how to play drums with both of his feet, so that one of his hands is freed up to play the bass lines on a keyboard that looks as if it just supposed to be a part of a normal drum kit. Most of the time, Wye Oak make these complicated, giant sounds without any help at all.

Wye Oak also sound like a folk band—and I mean that in a Neil Young kind of way. The marrow of their music is rich melody. While they are adept at every bell and whistle, underneath all the subterfuge is al- ways impeccable craftsmanship. They take squeamish themes head on, employing religious imagery to tackle contemplations of faith and doubt, life and death. Every song is interesting, many are revelatory.

BRIAN CONANT

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