It’s a story repeated throughout the ages: Band records bitchin’ debut—a collection of the best parts of its creative existence—and doesn’t have enough ideas left over to recreate that on sophomore album. But Yuck didn’t just record a bitchin’ debut. MAGNET dubbed its fuzz-pop masterstroke the best album of 2011, and we’d be lying if we didn’t say that sophomore e ffort Glow & Behold was a big disappointment. After the departure of singer/guitarist Daniel Blumberg, Yuck sounded directionless and detached, like a group whose only mission statement was to prove it still existed.
With Stranger Love, Yuck rea ffirms itself. No, the London band is never going to be called innovative, but the gusto with which it approaches those naked influences of Dinosaur Jr, Pavement and Sonic Youth—and the craftsmanship with which it does so—cracks through our cynical shells. Is it better than Yuck? Not even close, but second place can still kick a lot of ass.
—Matt Sullivan
