Led by the restless musings of Sam Jayne, Love As Laughter play like a casual consortium of friends who’ve camped out for the weekend at a remote lake house with memories of classic rock lodged deep in their subconscious. There are no direct references to the Grateful Dead or Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, and there’s a punkish energy fueling these ramshackle tunes that aren’t afraid to use electricity to make their point, as the scratchy distorted guitar chords of “Paul Revere” makes clear. But there’s an oddly cool retro vibe working under the surface. The band makes advantageous use of musical space, never overloading the tracks, but allowing each instrument to ring out on its own. Odd to think then that the band’s sixth album was put together in a New York City recording studio and that the band has called Brooklyn home for many years. There is an Iggy Pop city swagger and rockabilly guitar accompanying the rustic percussive jungle of “Baby Shambles.” The Rolling Stones’ urban approach to country music is recalled in the loose-fitting harmonies of “Konny and Jim,” while “All Parts of Me” turns a world music gumbo into a space jam.
Music Videos
- Morning Teleportation
- Built to Spill & Caustic Resin
- Doug Martsch
- The Halo Benders