Howler: America Give Up

Label: Rough Trade

Every now and again I wish we didn't include cover art with our reviews...and this is one of those times. The debut from Minneapolis quartet Howler comes in a cover that looks like some early-'90s brochure, but please don't be put off -- inside are some spirited indie-rock jams, which make no secret of their influences (the Strokes, among many other familiar guitar bands). So, originality isn't Howler's strength, but America Give Up is the kind of regular reminder we all appreciate about rock & roll's eternal validity. The tune "This One's Different" is a rush of melody and energy, and its title winks at the band's familiar sound, while "America" veers even further into Strokesian guitar-stroking pleasure. "Told You Once" seems to unite that vibe with another classic NYC sound, that of the Ramones, even if the driving guitar sound on the tune is a forcefully riffing acoustic. This band won't change the world -- at least not yet -- but America Give Up is a nice splash onto the scene and a guarantee that album No. 2 from Howler will be, as they say, "anticipated."