IN REVIEW: The Cribs - "For All My Sisters"

After Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party brought their angular riffs and post-punk energy to the mainstream about a decade ago, insatiable fans went looking for like-minded bands. That, along with sharpened songcraft and a major record deal, helped The Cribs break through with third record Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever, albeit to a lesser degree in North America. They've quietly explored their sonic horizons since (or, in the case of the hard-nosed, Steve Albini produced In the Belly of the Brazen Bull, not so quietly), and with sixth album For All My Sisters it's starting to come back around.

That said, there's a softer and more mature core to these songs, an expected result of the Jarman brothers all being in their thirties now. Not to say that the songs are dull; lead single Burning for No One has just the right amount of fire, while Mr. Wrong and City Storms (the latter of which pairs Ryan's elastic vocals with a Manics-inspired melody) proves they're still more than capable of crafting rowdy rockers. Throughout, there are tinges of new wave that can't help but surface when Ric Ocasek is at the helm; his imprint is perhaps felt strongest on pending festival shoe-in Summer of Chances.

The album does start to blur a bit toward the end, but they bring it all into focus on the flange-soaked, expansive closer Pink Snow. They could have probably trimmed a song or two and had themselves a more consistent record, but as it stands For All My Sisters is enough to keep me entertained and interested in what The Cribs do next.

March 24, 2015 • Arts & Crafts

Highlights Burning for No One • Mr. Wrong • Summer of Chances

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