Chicago band Smut have managed to find a way to blend a few disparate influences into something distinctive. While the vocals of Tay Roebuck are apt to earn comparisons to those of Harriet Wheeler of The Sundays or those of Sonya Madan of Echobelly, her talents and those of her band-mates are strong enough to give How The Light Felt a fresh vibe. The Bayonet Records release is one of this week's most enjoyable records too.
Opener "Soft Engine" has a Britpop-y bounce to it, while "After Silver Leaves" is more lyrical and melodic. The song's tune eases forward, with the players and vocalist Roebuck making this one go down like sugar-water. Elsewhere, "Let Me Hate" is even better, a deliberate down-tempo loveliness anchoring this one, while "Believe You Me" made this listener think of bands like Blake Babies or The Innocence Mission. Smut manage to give even the lightest songs here on How the Light Felt a certain robust pep, even as so much hinges on the charms of Tay Roebuck. While the second half of this record has a bunch of songs which earn that Harriet Wheeler comparison, the fiery "Supersolar" soars with a power that's to me similar to that of Catatonia or Sleeper, nearly.
How The Light Felt is an album that's easy to dive into. There's a vibe here that makes this all very accessible, and that the tunes are catchy for the most part doesn't hurt either. I wish there were more upbeat numbers on the side two of this, but there's nothing on this record that's not wildly enjoyable. How The Light Felt by Smut is highly recommended.
How The Light Felt by Smut is out on Bayonet Records on Friday.
[Photo: Mayank Mishra]