Convicts

Convicts
Label: Yep Roc
Length: LP
Website: http://www.youami.net
Release Date: 2007-01-23
Media: CD
Format: Album
WorkNameSort: Convicts
You Am I is yet another group incredibly successful in its homeland ‘ Australia, in this case ‘ that has yet to make any notable impression here in the U.S. YAI’s latest, Convicts, isn’t likely to change things, but not for lack of trying. Convicts is another convincing case for the simple bedrock verities of rock & roll as previously practiced by Big Star, the Replacements and a ton of other scrappy pups. The songs are sincere, the playing fast and tight, and while they lack a singer of definable force, they deserve more than just the top of the CMJ Report for a few weeks. But such is the probable lot of most rock & roll bands these days. Unless the Well Over 30 movement exercises its spending power, life will continue this way. Which, in the end, means bands will continue to make strong, spirited (if not spectacular) albums that get heard by a handful of folks until we ‘ or they ‘ die.

This article appears in Jan 31 – Feb 6, 2007.