Yuck’sGlow and Behold opens with the slow and reflective "Sunrise in Maple Shade". The song builds through gradual layering of electric and acoustic elements, as well as an erratic brass section. The same melodic motif continues throughout and although it reaches a crescendo, it does not resolve. This can be said for the majority of the indie-rock quartet’s sophomore release, which has its defining melodic moments, however they won’t stick in your head.
Glow and Behold follows Yuck’s self-titled album released in 2011, and also the sudden departure of frontman Daniel Blumberg in April of this year. Yuck revitalised the 90’s garage, post-grunge sound, driven by fuzzy guitar hooks saturated with feedback.
The frontman baton has been passed onto Max Bloom who, on vocals and guitar, provides a softer vocal range in comparison to Blumberg’s defining twang. "Out Of Time", "Lose My Breath" and "Memorial Fields", present dreamy vocal harmonies between Bloom and bassist Mariko Doi, with nostalgic guitar melodies. The extended, wobbling keys that conclude "Out of Time" have an almost extraterrestrial tone, accentuating the shoegaze feel the four piece are renowned for.
"Middle Sea" returns to the crunchy, feedback-ridden guitar melodies of old, and Bloom lets go vocally in this indie-rock gem that will have you bopping along. However, even this song tends to drag a little as it follows the same melodic and lyrical motif throughout the track.
"Rebirth" is a clear indication of the mature, clean sound demonstrated by the four piece. Bloom sings 'I don’t want your pain/I want you' against ascending synth notes that extend the range, and contrast against the (subtle) fuzzy guitar beneath. Unfortunately, these are the stellar tracks of the album, and from here, Glow and Behold flatlines through thematically similar songs. "Somewhere", "Nothing New" and "How Does It Feel" do, however, showcase varying instrumentation through shimmering keyboard sequences, and charming brass melodies.
"Twilight in Maple Shade" would have been a fitting end to the album with its simplistic, lo-fi guitar hooks, however, the concluding track "Glow and Behold" presents a soft nostalgia, which we have heard in previous tracks. The inclusion of a call and response between the brass section almost provides a resolution, however the track continues with the same melodic and rhythmic lo-fi guitar for two minutes with no progression.
Without comparing Glow and Behold to its predecessor, Yuck have successfully experimented with their shoegaze, garage rock sound with a more refined approach. However the repetitive nature of the album, with each song almost four minutes in length and following similar forms, lacks interest.
Review Score: 6.8 out of 10.
