Review: Ex Hex - Rips
- Oct 10, 2014
- 2 min read
By Sam Carroll, Contributor
[Merge Records; 2014]
Rating: 5.5/10
Key Tracks: “Don’t Wanna Lose,” “How You Got That Girl”
There are a couple characteristics synonymous with punk rock today: The songs are usually short and the instruments have a raw, energetic tone. Ex Hex’s debut album Rips calls back to the genre’s roots planted by The Ramones, The Sex Pistols and The Clash. It’s upbeat, poppy and doesn’t sound like it’s played as fast as possible in the shortest amount of time.
The album starts off with “Don’t Wanna Lose.” Reverb drenches power chords reinforced by a warm, solid bass line and tight drumming filled with plenty of snare and bass. The track immediately develops a danceable atmosphere. It’s a good track to start the album; the music conveys an enjoyable vibe that spans the entire album.
Rips has a very Ramones vibe to it in its chiming, over-driven guitar and cymbal heavy drum rhythms. Mary Timony’s nasally vocals are reminiscent of a cross between Joan Jett and Pat Benatar. Her delivery is similar to Jett’s in-your-face attitude scaled back for an indie audience while her voice sounds closer to Benatar’s cleaner sound, particularly on the longest track “War Paint.”
Her vocal delivery isn’t bad, but it isn’t great, either. At times it is bass-heavy; it smears away the character in her words. However, it doesn’t get in the way to the point where it detracts from the character in her voice.
“How You Got That Girl” is one of two tracks that branch out, with chord progressions similar to T. Rex’s “Bang a Gong (Get it On)” and tempo reminiscent of The Cars’ “Just What I Needed.” The track’s instrumentation is well executed, but the lyrics don’t click. They call to mind some of the popular break-up songs with lines like, “I’ve been the target / Of your cruel intention,” and, “You tell her this/ And you tell her that.”
Ex Hex’s debut album has some pretty catchy riffs and overall keeps in touch with the straightforward approach common in punk. The album steps away from the genre when a few bridges and solos show pop influence, with a faint psychedelic vibe.
A common feature of many bands’ debut albums, the material sounds similar to something that a primary influence may release. If the founding member was in a previous band, its sound can bleed through onto the new material.
Rips is not a terrible debut, nor is it the best. The music itself is done well and follows the punk formula. However, Ex Hex needs to consider some of the themes for future material. Most songs on this album seem to revolve around overcoming a bad relationship and reflect on what the other person did wrong. That's material that's been covered for decades.
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