Modern Creatures (Grotesque Modern)

Bassists have generally been perceived as second-class citizens in rock ’n’ roll’s string hierarchy. While the Eddie Van Halens of the world hog the spotlight with their fret-shredding licks, the Michael Anthonys—or Wolfgang Van Halens, for those keeping track—get the shaft, even though they’re the ones keeping the songs together.

Postpunkers Modern Creatures give credit where credit is due, as the locals eschew all things six-string on their low-end-driven, eponymous debut. While an all-bass album should suffer from muddied sonics, the duelling-bassists approach taken by Nikki Never and Jeremiah Haywood comes through perfectly. “Took Yr Girl”, for example, finds the duo harmonizing on an eerie, Black Sabbath–style metal intro before settling comfortably into a buzzing new-wave chorus.

While the bulk of the album flies by on drummer Michael Taylor’s frenetic punk pacing, these Creatures know how to slow things down, if only for a second. Easily the prettiest thing the band has penned, “Divorce Your Self” starts off as a darkly romantic ballad full of brooding chords and self-loathing lyrics before launching back into familiar—i.e. double-time—territory.

Though Modern Creatures is perfectly content to kick out the postpunk jams at hi-speed, things could get real interesting if the band ever stops to catch its breath.