As part of Palehound, Jesse Weiss became in a key figure in Boston’s flourishing DIY scene, the band scooping the city’s coveted Boston Music Award back in 2015 following the release of their brilliant ‘Dry Food’ LP. Appearing here in something of a supergroup, alongside fellow Bostoners Jack and Alec Pombriant (We Can All Be Sorry) and Nicole Pompei (Bat House), Weiss adds another gem to his back-catalogue, the quartet delivering a brilliant eight-track collection under their chosen Be You Me guise , via the Super Wimpy Punch label.
Drifting between those little cluster of genre aesthetics that lend themselves so well to DIY records of this nature – from subtle guitar refrains, to noisier moments of scuzzy pop magic – the band’s self-titled effort makes for a fully endearing escape. Those aforementioned experimental moments lend the record a hard-cutting edge that’s perhaps not immediately apparent, digging themselves in over repeated listens, a vice-like grip that results in something of an unsteady listen, moments of sunniness immediately hidden behind a blanket of clouds, brightness suddenly plunged in to the dark.
Above all, however, Be You Me is a righteously enjoyable ride. The guitars gleam throughout, and the push-and-pull of the vocals, while somewhat heady and disorientating, attach themselves to you like a best friend you’ve never been abl to keep a hold on. A sumptuous, woozy record, that deserves to exist on its own two feet, regardless of the collective nature of those that came to make it, we suggest playing this one as often, and as loud, as your situation permits.
jack pombriant – vocals, guitar (2,3,5,6,7), bass (1,2,3,7), keyboards (5,7)
jesse weiss – drums, guitar (1,2,4,7,8), bass (4,6,8), keyboards (8)
alec pombriant – lead guitar (4)
