tiltWheel
Battle Hymns for the Recluse Youth CD--Liquid Meat (PO Box 460692, Escondido, CA 92046)
Escondido, California punk rock band tiltWheel are apparently among the daily-diminishing group of vinyl loyalists--Battle Hymns for the Recluse Youth is also available on 12" vinyl with an extra track for the faithful. I think I'll stick to the CD, even though they don't make things easy for the newcomer--there are no song titles listed on the album, no band members' names are listed inside (instead there's an order form for expensive, out-of-print tiltWheel records, priced between $25 and $40) the band's name doesn't appear on the front cover, and the back cover is taken up by a huge UPC code. Maybe the words printed on the CD itself are song lyrics, but through a cruel twist of fate the CD is always in the player when I'm listening to the songs--what a coincidence. I guess either the band expects the titular 'recluse youth' to have a lot of free time on his or her hands, or perhaps they really want people to listen to their music to get into it (gasp!). I think I can handle that burden, as their music has me ready to forgive them their lack of manners: it's tight, melodic, and catchy, without sacrificing that crucial rock urge that makes the listener think they might really be able to turn a small club inside out It's that effect where the band in playing together so well that you don't hear the individual instruments so much as you just hear the song, and the music--a small thing perhaps, but always refreshing to hear. There are places here and there where the band will remind me of another group, perhaps one that might be an influence like Mudhoney or the Replacements, but for the most part, after a couple of listens Battle Hymns for the Recluse Youth just sounds like tiltWheel to me. Good show, lads.
Back to Aaron's reviews index
Back to Aaron's Music Journalism Archives top page
Link to DAISY GLAZE NATION home page