album of the week: 8.3

Holy Fuck

Latin

XL Recordings (2010)

why you'll love it: pounding energy and rhythm

why you'll hate it: Lacks direction, not as many hits as pervious albums

How can you not love the name like Holy Fuck? It immediately puts me in a positive mood to listen to whatever they make. This is album number three for the electronic-distortion quartet. They're the kind of band you're meant to enjoy live, as they add a lot of small improvisational moments to their songs. What you get on this album, like their others, is basically a blueprint. A demo for their live act.

After a rather needless intro, "Red Lights" kicks in; which feels like a chase scene in a cop film. It's got some funky bass guitar, and the pace never lets up. A couple mellow songs follow. "Stay Lit" fooled me into thinking I was listening to Do Make Say Think for a few moments. "Silva & Grimes" builds a stunning krautrock beat, but not much else goes on here. "SHT MTN" brings back the glitchy sound found in their first album, like a marching army of rusty killbots. "Stilettos" is more of my style, as someone who enjoyed the hyperspace Mega Man pace of beats on the previous record.

I usually don't do reviews in this song by song format, but Holy Fuck doesn't really make cohesive albums. It's just a collection of what they've been up to recently. Anyway, Latin concludes with "P.I.G.S.", the only song longer than 6 minutes, which is just as rousing and catchy as "Red Lights". Even though this album wanders and flails a bit in the middle, Holy Fuck goes in with a purpose and knows how to find a way out. That's how they make songs. Go see it happen live to get the full experience.