The Navins play jangly indie garage rock in a nice, cool and at times frazzled way. Not Yourself is their latest album which came out earlier in 2016.
The album opens with the poppy Judy, You're Not Yourself Today in which over a nice poppy beat they tell us why Judy is on the edge and, well, threatening herself more than others. It's pleasant and it probably shouldn't be. Take It Away is a bit more angst-y and has a bit more musical bite like it wants to sound like Velvet Crush or something similar.
Never Wanted Nothing is crunchier still with a nice hazy edge to it and fine harmony vocals. It almost feels a bit like Sebadoh. What You Do has a very cool guitar line during the intro which is very Crazy Horse-ish before the echo laden vocals come in to ask what else he can do as he's been dumped again. It sounds like a Teenage Fanclub B-side. Then they do a pretty nice cover of Sparklehorse's Piano Fire which seems to be a bit more upbeat than the original and makes it sound like a real College rock hit.
When We Turn Blue doesn't at all sound like a song about OD-ing on drugs. Maybe it's about becoming a Democrat or something else, but it a nice hazy feel to it nonetheless. Something About You is another song with a bit of the Velvet Crushes about it, it's another good college rocker if college rock is still exists that. Guessing from their picture, the band are old enough to be the teachers rather than the students.
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Oceans has nothing to do with the Velvet Underground and is more like a Pavement song. Better Luck is in a similar ball park and comes on like it would sound good at a decent indie rock night. See You Again slows things down as they yearn for the woman who is miles away, but they live in hope a cool guitar solo will make her come back again.
The album closes with Wallet Full Of Signs that I guess read something like "I Love Velvet Crush", "College Rock Rules" "Seattle Rock City", "Garage Rock till I die" et al. Either way it makes for a rousing conclusion. I really like the drum sound on it and that repeating insistent riff that breaks down in the long instrumental break.
Find out more at The Navins at Green Monkey Records
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