The Weakends: The Weakends
No-fi Frenchies the Weakends hold the honor of releasing the second full-length album bearing the mark of former Atlanta label Rob’s House Records (the first was the Coathangers’ 2007 debut). From the first, lilting melodies of “Long Dead Gone,” these Franco garage rockers show off breezy but gut-wrenching riffs and melancholy rhythms that embrace the traditions of ramshackle American blues and rock. “Devil by My Side” sets the stage for the album’s gritty, catchy and deliberate pace. “Arty Party,” “Desperate Love Blues” and “Dawn of the Dead” all uphold the album’s dirty, primitive moods. As such, there isn’t a lot of variety throughout the Weakends’ repertoire, but who needs variety when the songs and chemistry click with so much ease. 4 stars