Elk City has finally exposed what they’ve been carefully crafting during their very long hiatus. In their eagerly anticipated album New Believers, the NYC/New Jersey band pays close attention to the production and the blending of gloomy textures and shoegazey guitars provided by Sean Eden (formerly of Luna) with the vibrant vocal acrobatics of charming lead singer Renee LoBue--- who goes from a calm Courtney Love in one song to Patti Smith in the next. The subtle melodies of “Silver Lawyers” and clap-friendly “Little Brother” possess elements of the band’s main influences: the 60s, French pop, Camera Obscura and Mercury Rev. The slower songs, sounding slightly dated, yet not particularly retro or experimental, never recapture the intensity of the standout first track “Cherries in the Snow.” Elk City’s intent in bringing some raw emotion and soul into post-punk is commendable and gutsy. Though they don’t fully carry the excitement or originality all the way through the whole album, New Believers will keep ears intrigued for the band’s future recordings.
-Diana Past
Buy Album from CD Universe
