Les Savy Fav - Root For Ruin

Bands that have crazy frontmen aren't supposed to last as long as Les Savy Fav have. No, they're supposed to put out a solid debut, follow it up with a mediocre second album, and then implode. Fortunately, that doesn't seem likely to happen with Les Savy Fav, especially considering that the quintet has been going strong since 1995. On their fifth album, Root For Ruin, Les Savy Fav pick up right where they left off on 2007's Let's Stay Friends. The sharp riffs of "Appetites" punctuate the opening of the album along with Tim Harrington's half-shouted refrain of "We still got our appetite," a lyric that proves that Les Savy Fav aren't about to let their advancing years slow them down. Instead of sticking to their usual in-your-face dynamic for the entire record, songs like "Sleepless in Silverlake" and "Poltergeist" use trebley, atmospheric effects that result in melodies that brood and stew in their sentiments, rather than rush to the finishline. It's a nice change of pace that mixes well with Les Savy Fav's signature punk rock theatrics and shows exactly why they're still on top after all this time.

DOWNLOAD: Les Savy Fav - Root For Ruin [Frenchkiss]
Recommended Tracks: "Appetites," "Sleepless in Silverlake," "High and Unhinged," "Excess Energies."