Chrome Neon Jesus
Chrome Neon Jesus draws openly from the guitar music of the 1990s, but Teenage Wrist make a strong case for returning to those sounds. Their debut album places dreamy singing above a substantial rhythm section, with distortion and melody working closely together. The influences are obvious. The strength of the songs gives the record a purpose beyond recreating an earlier decade.
The title track introduces that balance well. A distant, quiet opening gives way to a more forceful arrangement and a clear chorus. The guitar sound can become rough without losing the tune underneath, while a section of fuzz and buried spoken voice adds another change before the song returns to greater intensity.
Dweeb works through a simpler vocal hook. The repeated phrase is easy to remember, with the more subdued verses giving the chorus something to push against. It shows how the band can build a song around a small melodic idea without needing the words to explain everything.
Swallow adds a heavier foundation beneath the softer singing. Its large guitar parts and substantial drums give the track weight, while the effects on the guitar bring a less expected colour into the sound. Black Flamingo also benefits from active drumming, particularly when the instruments have room to play against one another in its bridge. The rhythm section gives the music movement as well as size.
That combination remains appealing, but it is not equally surprising throughout. The melodies are often so smooth that the darker guitar tones provide less friction than they first promise. Rollerblades and Waitress still make effective use of low guitar and bass beneath the voice, yet the album sometimes seems too comfortable with its sweeter side.
The glossy production can also exaggerate the gap between quieter and louder passages, making a few transitions less natural. Even so, Chrome Neon Jesus has focused writing, memorable choruses and a clear understanding of its own sound. Teenage Wrist make the familiar ingredients feel worthwhile through the interaction of the players. It is an assured debut whose best songs are strong enough to stand apart from the nostalgia around them.
