The Yelling : Long Time My Love :: Review
Suitably dark, brooding and catchy as hell, Los Angeles based The Yelling are a band who get it. The Yelling are fronted by singer Nathaniel Cox who reminds me of Robert Plant with a dose of Cobain thrown in for good measure. Cox has a formidable arsenal of musicians backing him, as The Yelling aren’t slouches while churning out their bluesy rock and roll stew. On “Long Time My Love,” The Yelling have crafted an album full of hooks that is hard to play quietly.
From the opening fuzzed out stomp of “21st Century Freak,” The Yelling capture your attention as interpreters of the MC5’s version of rock and roll. Loud and brash, “21st Century Freak” channels an eastern guitar freak out vibe before melting into the staccato organ fueled riff rock of “Fire and a Microphone.” Michael Judd’s drumming is extremely Bonhamesque throughout, as particularly evidenced on the title track. After the heaviness of the previous tracks, the densely layered “Mother Carried A Child” offers a more pensive side of the band. “Mother Carried A Child” is one of the most diverse and well-written songs on the album with its dose of accordion, horns and guitar embracing its melancholy lyrics. The shimmery “Burning For What” closes out side one while recalling a track that the Raconteurs would kill for.
“Blood On The Steps” seems to be the only misstep here, as the fuzz and organ trip obligation was filled better elsewhere on the album. “Naked” is suitably skuzzy sounding and strangely reminiscent of the dangerous atmosphere that Guns N’ Roses was able to create on “Appetite for Destruction” all those years ago. “Remember When We Young” features a great whistled and organ intro that is reflected by the slide guitar solo perfectly as the album grooves along and proudly displays its classic rock roots. As the album draws to a close, The Yelling seem poised for greatness and echo the past glories of the other classic Los Angeles bands that came before while positioning themselves to join them.
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“Long Time My Love” is available through the band’s website.
