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Written by Kate Estwing Wednesday, 06 September 2006 15:41

With crunchy, poppy guitars and vocals mostly in a lower, gravely range, it could easily entice you to stick a hand out of the car window while driving on the highway...

 

If I didn't know who it was, the opening track of Low Lustre's EP would immediately make me search for a name, frantically thinking, "This must be a veteran band that I should know." And I'd be shocked to find out it's a young trio from Minneapolis who have played only a few dozen shows under their collective identity, a couple of them with well-knowns the Juan Maclean and the M's.

The catchiest song on the six-song album is undoubtedly "Dancing Blind." With crunchy, poppy guitars and vocals mostly in a lower, gravely range, it could easily entice you to stick a hand out of the car window while driving on the highway, its title implying such an effect. More alternative than twangy, the album doesn't look to exotic electronics or anything to sugar coat it. The result is raw, earnest songcrafting. While the slower tempo on the final two songs drags into molasses territory (and probably could have been left off), the more impressive songs are enough to keep interest in the band.

While endearing that Low Lustre self-released the album and is doing its own press, this often amounts to a groan from most music reviewers. But thanks to some fun (albeit low quality) album cover art and a well-put-together Web site, Low Lustre is obviously knowledgeable in the successful DIY department. The band projects another EP (maybe EP II?) this fall.

RIYL: Dinosaur Jr., Wilco