Lando by Kudrow

Released in 2009 by Quote Unquote Records / Ernest Jenning Records.

This is the side project, once again, of Jeff Rosenstock, whose day job with Bomb! The Music Industry and running Quote Unquote Records you would think would keep him busy enough to have no time to write any more good music. However with accomplices Mike Campbell, formerly of Latterman, and Dave Garwacke they manage to write an album that somehow fills the gap between Gaslight Anthem based nostalgia punk rock, Walkmen indie rock, and the driving power of Latterman and Bomb! The Music Industry.

The album just runs so fast but not like a blur, more like a movie that you love so much you want to watch it again as soon as it is over. Opener "Commutilation!" plays like a distorted, sped up 50's music, the vocals are dragged through fuzz but the lyrics are clear and the music just jumps up in your face. The second track, "Blink-182 Reunion" is much cleaner, but so much more nostalgic, it pops with the pop punk energy of it's namesake but the lyrical content and the singer bring ruminations of The Weakerthans at their faster points. "Favreau" is handclap fueled, punk rock flavored track that has the closest relations to Bomb! but it is still something new and totally Kudrow. The closer, and longest track on the album, "Brooklyn Pool" is another slower tune, choosing to focus on the way life tends to disappear into thin air, the band has already created a sad atmosphere by the time they get to the chorus "No one wants to be alone, No one wants to be alone on a Saturday night, crowding the pilot light 'cause the heat in the pipes has stopped." It is sad but amazingly touching and true.

Honestly, I could listen to this EP all day. It does not get old, repeat listens show a little more, and you see different corners that you couldn't before. It honestly does not get better than this.

Rating - 5 out of 5
Favorite Track - "Brooklyn Pool"

Download at Quote Unquote Records for a donation only price -
http://www.quoteunquoterecords.com/qur037.htm