"Open Your Heart" To The Men's Third Album

By Jon Graef in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 20, 2012 7:20PM

At first, this writer must admit that he, in fact, decidedly did not open his heart to the new album from The Men, titled, perhaps not unexpectedly Open Your Heart. No, he wanted more noise-jams, sax squawks and avant-garde shit similar to the New York quartet’s (which is not to be confused with post Le Tigre MEN) second full-length, 2011’s Leave Home. (Check out the back-to-back sequencing of "Think" and "LADOCH," which mine both pigfuck and free-jazz for some disturbing, but cathartic noise-scapes. Jesus Lizard fans, take note.)

Indeed, compared to Leave Home, Open Your Heart is a readily accessible, less hostile and more melodic follow-up. But here’s a funny fact about more melodic jams: at some point, you just start singing along. So sure, roll your eyes at the on-the-nose Buzzcocks/Stiff Little Fingers homages, but sooner or later, The Men are going to get ‘ya the way most great rock bands do: with hooks and voracious energy on their respective instruments.

Based on the opening three songs, however, my immediate thoughts were, "what is this verse-chorus-verse microwaved-over Foo Fighters shit?" My answer is that I still don't know —there's no reason this excellent rock band needed to ape modern-rock radio so studiously—but that Open Your Heart seriously finds its footing after 7-minute Motorik jam "Oscillation," and continues to be excellent until the album's end.

Simply put, the songwriting becomes much sharper, and the hooks dig in deeper. (Red hot closer "Ex-Dreams" is especially satisfying, as is the title track). There's even a nice Creedence homage in "Candy." The Men's fondness for all forms of rock is admirable, and their synthesis of many different styles (punk, psychedelia, country, garage, shoegaze) referenced is often thrilling. But their love can also be blinding, as is the case in opener "Turn It Around." Fortunately, The Men see the light, and continue on their trailblazing ways. Though it starts off hollow, Heart's emptiness is subsequently filled with many great songs. Open yours to it, and you won't be disappointed.

The Men play Treasure Town with Nude Beach and Mac Blackout on Wednesday, March 21. Email themenshow3.21.12@gmail.com for details