They may be less than two years removed from their last record, Sunswimmer, but the Athens, GA band New Madrid have grown substantially confidant in that time. Their latest, magnetkingmagnetqueen, is a far more ambitious record, more experimental and it works – most of the time.
The vocals may get a little lost in the swirl of guitars, (especially on a song like the sonically brutal “Shades”) but the fact that the band is willing to try new sounds and not simply replicate the music from their well-received debut is impressive and more often than not, the gamble plays off. Drawing on influences from bands as diverse as Televison and The Tubes and even Athens elder statesmen like Pylon and IRS-era R.E.M., New Madrid boasts an eclectic sound.
While there are plenty of highlights on the record, songs like the trippy “Dress Up” and “Dugout,” with its charming Michael Stipe-esque nonsensical lyrics, stand out a just little bit higher than the others. An impressive step in a new direction.
New Madrid – magnetkingmagnetqueen/15 tracks/Normaltown Records/2016 / http://www.newmadridband.com/ / https://twitter.com/NewMdrd / https://www.facebook.com/newmadridband/