In the mid-'90s, much of the critical acclaim bestowed on indie rock gods Pavement began to permeate outside underground circles, as alt-rockers like Blur, Menswear and Pure started to mimic the band's brand of irony-filled slack. By the time La Snacks released their 2005 debut, Brown Orange Black and Gray, it seemed as if the Austin, TX trio's own Malkmus-indebted sound was released too late in the game to sound like it was part of the zeitgeist.
With the release of Le Dope, their third full-length (and first in six years), La Snacks come off not only re-energized and hungry, but relevant. For better or for worse, La Snacks haven't aged a day, coming off both youthful and childish on tracks like the peppy "My Little Sugary Friend" and the lyrically juvenile "O'Pajama." Although a few tracks seemingly move around vacantly, there are too many great moments, like the Fall/Minutemen-inspired "Christsakes and Milk Shakes" or the '90s fuzz-guitar rundown of "Staying Up," to completely discount La Snacks' slacky, sloppy return.
(Foolish Boy Records)With the release of Le Dope, their third full-length (and first in six years), La Snacks come off not only re-energized and hungry, but relevant. For better or for worse, La Snacks haven't aged a day, coming off both youthful and childish on tracks like the peppy "My Little Sugary Friend" and the lyrically juvenile "O'Pajama." Although a few tracks seemingly move around vacantly, there are too many great moments, like the Fall/Minutemen-inspired "Christsakes and Milk Shakes" or the '90s fuzz-guitar rundown of "Staying Up," to completely discount La Snacks' slacky, sloppy return.