Customer Reviews

Yank Crime

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

They may have been neglected amidst the reams of grunge impersonators that dominated rock radio, but during their brief existence in the '90's Drive Like Jehu still managed to create some of the most vital and addictive rock of their time. Playing a brand of noisy indie rock that sounded a little like a lot of acts but a lot like none, these guys left a stunning valedictory with 1994's Yank Crime, a precursor to a great deal of the edgier rock that's been released since. When Drive Like Jehu set themselves to rocking (which was most of the time), they did so with a rollicking intensity and an unabashed catchiness that managed to emerge even amidst all the eardrum abuse. More importatntly, these songs are catchy on their own terms, without resorting to the cliched pop hooks that characterize pretty much everything on rock radio these days.

Combining punkish aggression and attitude with the complexity of math rock, Drive Like Jehu played emo before it became a dirty word. There was no whining here, just tons of manic energy and incendiary performances from all around. DLJ weren't on Steve Albini's notorious Touch & Go label, but one could be forgiven for believing otherwise-they were louder than Slint, less obnoxious than the Jesus Lizard, and less instrumental than Don Caballero, but still possessed the combination of adventurism and explosiveness for which that imprint was known. And yeah, I guess while I'm at the name-dropping I can say there are some parallels to Sonic Youth and Fugazi as well, putting DLJ in the company of several of the best bands of the '90's, albeit with a lot less hype.

With every member cranking the intensity and volume up to 11, Yank Crime is an out-of-control muscle car of an album, veering between short, sharp blasts of chaotic fury and longer, multifaceted compositions that let the band stretch out a bit without compromising an ounce of their intensity. The guitars of John Reis and Rick Froberg thrash about in all sorts of wild patterns, interlocking to form near-imprenetrable walls of noise or uncorking leads that sound about as pleasant as dentists' drills. Meanwhile, Froberg screamed, howled, and shrieked with reckless abandon and unparalleled enthusiasm over the dense rhythmic chug of Mike Kennedy and Mark Trombino. Some tracks go straight for the gut, and others have their ebbs and flows, but all are clenched, intelligent, and hard-driving. What more could you ask for from a rock album? And while I'm dispensing advice, be sure to check out Hot Snakes, who carried on the DLJ sound respectably during their three-album run.

A math-rock masterpiece that still sounds fresh today.
I have yet to hear a band sound as precise and LOUD as Jehu did.
Start off with their first album then move on to this one because
it is alot more complex and harder to understand, unlike the first album which catches you right from the start and is filled with more
"straight-up" rock songs.
Excellent. See also: Rocket From The Crypt, Hot Snakes, Pitchfork,
Don Cabellero, Unwound.

The intensity, keen songwriting, and sheer aggresive qualities set this far apart from all other albums. Drive Like Jehu had incalcuable amounts of passion behind every chord they played and word they sang. I can't even begin to pick a favorite track from the record, they're all perfect. Songs go in completely unexpected directions that end up working brilliantly, doing things that a group of less talented musicians would botch. Builds on the promise of the self-titled and ups it a notch, creating spastic, driving music that never gets old. I've listened to this thing everyday for the last six months and still haven't gotten sick of it.

Brilliant, just brilliant. One of my all-time favorite records. I would describe DLJ's sound as "deconstructionist punk"...very original, very chaotic and very emotionally charged. The guitar parts are remniscent of "Damaged"-era Black Flag and Mark Trombino's drumming is unbelievable. There are noises on this record...I can't even tell how they're made...but they flow so well with the music and add to the beautifully-arranged chaos that is "Yank Crime."

I am not even sure it is fair to call Drive Like Jehu a "punk" band...since it is impossible to pigeonhole their sound into a neat category. Definitely "punk" in spirit. This album captures all of the angst and excitement that drew me to hardcore punk 20 years ago. It makes me want to jump out of my skin...in a good way. Very few bands do that for me.

There are so many bad bands out there...I wish DLJ had stayed together long enough to put out more records - two lp's is not enough for me. If you are into Drive Like Jehu, I also recommend checking out the band Planes Mistaken for Stars. Very good stuff in a similar vein.

"Yank Crime" is the real deal. A freaking masterpiece. I am jonesing for more, but I already own all their records.

Drive like Jehu disbanded after the YANK CRIME tour. John Reis of Rocket from the Crypt, Hot Snakes,...and Rick Froberg (Hot Snakes) were the twin guitars that played their way into infamy. I love Froberg's vocals in both bands. Hot Snakes are good but not as powerful as JEHU. They are lacking the drumming of Mark Trombino who has gone on to produce lots of great bands Tanner, Jimmy eat world,Blink 182,Finch, and GOB. If you like JEHU then you need to check out PITCHFORK ans the HOT SNAKES. Reis and Froberg's band Pitchfork before they formed Jehu and the HOT SNAKES the band after JEHU.

Yank crime is the second of two flawless albums from this San Diego quartet. Every track is underlined with mind searing guitars (care of John Reis, aka: Speedo from rocket from the crypt) and the pseudo-feminene vocals of Rick Fork. I've listened to this album every week since the day it came out, and have yet to grow weary of it's mathematical precision and emotional drain. What DLJ lack in marketing schemes (check out the album cover), they more than make up for in raw unadulterated talent. If you like this cd, try to find the genesis of this band, Pitchfork. You will not be sorry.

An amazing album. Even after all these years, it still pounds and cuts like nothing else. A complex sound dthough, with very strange rythm changes. The guitars are prominent, and sound very sharp, edgy, high pithced. The vocals are desperate, at the edge of breaking.

Most of all, buy this album if you're into guitar noise and rock that sounds improvised, but is well structured, very sharp and loud, melodic but seems on the edge of deconstruction.

This is just one of those records that caught me by surprise. I heard they sounded like Fugazi(who i like) and figured theyd be just another toss-off band. As it turns out, the only thing they've really got in common with Fugazi is turning hard rock structures upside down and inside out and injecting them with anger. There's lots of screaming on this album, but it's not obnoxious at all, it sounds like the singer's screaming just to make himself heard in the mix half the time. With a rhythm section as solid and rumbling as "in utero" nirvana and dueling guitarists with enough tricks up their sleeves to compete with moore and renaldo, they come off sounding comparatively clean. At once energizing and hypnotizing, it's a shame they only had one amazing album (their only other release, a self-titled album is good, but it sounds like they're purposely trying not to sound like the fugazi to whom they're so often compared). A must have for any guitar rock fan who despises the garbage being released under the banner of "alternative rock" and "heavy metal" today.

I was fortunate enough to live in San Diego during the way too short career of Jehu and saw them live whenever they played. They are simply one of my favorite bands of all time. Please buy this album. The addition of "Hand Over Fist" and "Bullet Train To Vegas" to Yank Crime pleases me very much because the sound quality of the "bullet/hand" single is not great. If you are reading this you already know how great they were. I miss this band and would go to the ends of the earth to see them if they ever played live again.

This album is solid. An antidote to Blink 182 and its ilk, even if drummer Mark Trombino later produced 182...but I digress. I highly recommend both Drive Like Jehu albums. True artwork, true clarity--a rare find.

Oh, and they're urban design visionaries: single entitled "Bullet Train To Vegas"