Media Review

Mouse Fire

Wooden Teeth (CD)

Lujo
website | mySpace

Overall Rating:

9.0

Music Quality: 9.0

Production: 6.5

Originality: 8.5

I’ll be honest: when I found myself stumbling across this album in the endless promo bin, I took a second glance due to the fact the band is on Lujo Records. Lujo is home to several up-and-coming acts that I’ve been interested in, namely a band called “Look Mexico” who took Owen and mixed it with Anathallo for a really cool sound.

This band, Mouse Fire, take a whole different approach, but it’s immediately invigorating and accessible. They sound like a more melodic, danceable Minus The Bear, but add a lot more piano and elegant vocal hooks. This is especially notable in the second track, with the vocal outro where the singers shout “I don’t want to be left behind” a few times, showcasing an ability to create splendid vocal harmonies. Their technical side is apparent in all of the songs, with driving, pulsating guitars and riff-raffy rhythms found in bands like Cursive, Minus The Bear, Controlling The Famous, or even Pinback. What’s compelling about Mouse Fire though, is their clear blend of these technical riffs with clever vocal lines, such as the talked-out, messy vocal lines on “Comes Around Goes Around” or immediately thereafter with the blurry vocal intro on “Mexican Weather.”

All that being said, I was enjoying the record, don’t get me wrong—but when the immediately enticing “To Celebrate A Suicide” came on, I perked up instantly. Bassy, head-bobbin’ drums and clever, tight guitar riffs made this one a quickly lovable track. Throughout the song, you can feel the vibe/synth-undertones, and the syncopated guitars only serve to complement the chill mood underneath. What’s even more surprising is that this song isn’t even on their myspace. I suppose that’s just another reason to pick this one up.

The band knows how to be diverse: A few tracks later, the dancey side of the band comes really clear with the Bloc-Party esque "Started A Fire," followed by the whispery epic "Flash Floods," filled with bendy guitars and noisey chamber vocals.

Mouse Fire’s ability to blend tranquility with noise is perfectly rendered on the closing track, “This Is How I Throw My Slider.” Moody, bass-driven, and toe-tapping rhythms with serene vocals and simple guitar riffs crescendo into an explosive chorus that is at once memorable and avant-garde. “Get back baby, get down, you know where we are…” lays atop shimmering guitar riffs ala Dredg/Circa Survive, and the CD ends leaving you feeling at once confused and winded.

This is undeniably the most refreshing CD I’ve heard for a long time, especially when considering it’s the band’s debut. The only thing this band is lacking is a little better budget to really propel their sound—at moments it sounds a bit flat and the mastering job could be a little tighter. It’s not hard to push that aside, however, when you immerse yourself in the innovative, clever guitar riffing and dark vocal hooks. Strongly recommended.

reviewed by Andrew Martin