Posts Tagged ‘Hoodwink’d’

LVL UP – ” Ski Vacation “

Posted: January 6, 2015 in MUSIC
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The release of LVL UP’s sophomore LP “Hoodwink’d” is imminent, and they’ve just heightened the anticipation considerably with the release of “Ski Vacation.”

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It’s jangly, propulsive blast of brightly melancholic guitar-pop that reminds me of Beat Happening covering a Go Betweens song. The way those chiming guitar leads dance with the octave-spanning boy-girl vocals is seriously so wonderful, LVL UP’s new full-length, Hoodwink’d, make sure that you do — it’s one of my favorite albums of the year, a perfect combination of sparkling production and intricately wound slacker rock. “Big Snow” would slot in nicely on that album, but it shows up on an awesome split with Krill, Ovlov, and Radiator Hospital instead. It’s another winner from the New York quartet, deftly balancing existential crises with winking moments of levity

LVL UP – ” Soft Power “

Posted: January 2, 2015 in MUSIC
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“Hoodwink’d” is the long awaited sophomore LP from NY lo-fi rockers, LVL UP. The 15-song full length will release this fall on Double Double Whammy Records and Exploding in Sound.

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LVL UP – ” Dbts “

Posted: January 2, 2015 in MUSIC
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Hoodwink’d is New York foursome LVL UP’s sophomore album where they wipe the lo-fi guitar grit from past songs and bring the vocals up front and center. LVL UP’s astute pop sensibilities remain their backbone as fuzz-fused riffs and arching notes create a moody atmosphere around Benton’s deadpan vocals.
It’s a record that addresses our enormous capability for self-deception. Hoodwink’d is concerned with the idea that we’re our own worst enemy, that we let emotions cloud our better judgement and hold us back from living up to our full potential. Whether it’s triggered by low self-esteem or anxiety or a perpetual fear of failure, it’s all the same — we lie to ourselves, and that’s the most dangerous thing we can do.

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Between constant self-referencing and its mostly abstract lyrics, Hoodwink’d clearly offers a lot to think about. And yet, at the same time, it doesn’t require much thinking. Ultimately, that’s the genius of this album: it’s simultaneously a totally accessible pop record—full of catchy hooks and ripping solos—and a depressing series of existential crises. The combination of the two is an album that’s both a wonderful contradiction and a must-listen.