Spectreview: Wild Powwers – Skin

-RED-

“It’s something that you think of all the time”

Grunge gets a bad rap even in its birthplace, but that’s mostly to do with the money rolling right in, squandering the goodwill of a few tempestuous landmark bands that permanently changed the scenery of rock music. Wild Powwers are certainly informed by grunge, but the visceral interpretation of rock they present on Skin finds room for the sludgecraft of peak Dinosaur Jr. as well as shoegaze’s guitar smears. Those looking for bold interpretations and odd left-turns will be let down by a few standard compositions, but the record they’ve presented here is a qualified banger. Lara Hilgemann’s voice, a triple threat of Courtney Love’s high range, Janis Joplin’s uncompromising rasp and Katie Crutchfield no-bullshit ethos, pierces through the brutal title track and the post-punk-informed roller-coaster ride of “Night Sweats”. Lupe Flores’ ten-ton toms and loose stick work affirms her reputation as a astonishing local drummer. As the album punches at a seemingly unending force, compact closer “Sad Sap,” presents a welcome breather and reveals a more ruminant side of the band that is hopefully explored on their next records. Thirty-five years down the line grunge may have few opportunities to evolve, but Skin presents a strong argument that the genre still has potential in today’s rock environment.

Recommended for the PA system at the Central Saloon.