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Written
by Jason Hillenburg, posted by blog admin
There’s
rock music on this release – make no mistake. Rock, however, is just one of
many colors these four young Wisconsin natives draw from on Yam Haus’ debut
album Stargazer. The band’s members
met in high school and have played together since then and their experience
with one another is borne out by their obvious chemistry. They, frankly, never
sound tentative or untested. Instead, the thirteen songs on Stargazer are grounded in an upbeat aesthetic
around a core sound with the flexibility to harbor multiple variations within
that central theme. Their clean cut youthful appearance doesn’t readily present
the reality that these four musicians are far more advanced than the typical
debut act – but once you give Stargazer
a single spin, you’ll soon discover that this album is a collaborative initial
release quite unlike any other in recent memory.
They
begin the album in a relatively bold way. Yam Haus leads things off with the
album’s title track “Stargazer” and their infectious blend of vivid yet
understated guitar with sparkling and creative synth lines weaving and flaring
throughout the arrangement. Lead vocalist Lars Pruitt has an effortless charm
in his performance drawing you in from the first and much of the key to his appeal
lies in his sharp instincts for vocal melody and the palpable feeling in his
voice. Kicking the album off with its title cut is a genuine statement of
confidence few new artists or bands dare to dabble with, but it pays off well
for Yam Haus. “Kingdom” is one of the finer songs on Stargazer thanks to its deft turn at characterization, among other
reasons. It may fly under the radar due to the sheer musical creativity on
display here, but the lyrical content on Stargazer
is uniformly top notch and “Kingdom” stands out as one of the best cuts on
this recording.
The
effervescent uplift of the band’s music continues with the album’s fourth song “Get
Somewhere”, particularly when it hits its exultant chorus. The smattering of
backing vocals counterpointed against Pruitt’s own adds another dollop of
sweetness to an already likeable tune. Jake Felstow’s drumming proves, track
after track, to be an important component in the band’s success and that’s no
exception with this number. “Too Many People” is an introspective track, yet
never slips into melancholy or despair. Instead, it’s a remarkably measured and
mature tune highlighted by Pruitt’s vocal and eloquently tasteful lead guitar
from Seth Blum. This isn’t a guitar-dominated album, Yam Haus is never that
predictable, but they weave their six string artistry into a larger compositional
frame guaranteed to enchant listeners. Stargazer
is a fully realized gem, an astonishing debut, and points the way towards a
bright future for this Midwestern quartet. It’s hard to imagine that Yam Haus
won’t be a presence in music lover’s lives for decades to come.
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