Tenement
The Blind Wink


4.0
excellent

Review

by rasputin USER (201 Reviews)
December 14th, 2011 | 36 replies


Release Date: 2011 | Tracklist

Review Summary: never ready to grow up.

There are days where nostalgia grips me so strongly that I'm rendered incapable of doing anything but putting on my favourite albums of yesteryear or just lying on the couch and rewatching early Scrubs episodes. What I listen to really depends on whether or not I want to get out of my fuzzy, sentimental stupor - if I'd rather lie there comatose, I'll spin something like Disintegration, but if I want to smile in teary bliss then I'll put on --. Nothing you idiots, happy music is for faggots.

Okay, not really. But to be perfectly honest, I'm usually overcome with melancholy in these aforementioned 'episodes' I experience, and most of the time my musical therapy matches that mood. This is where Tenement comes in - their second LP The Blind Wink was only released this year, but it feels like I grew up listening to this record. After about three listens, I felt like I already knew the songs and that I had already bonded with them over the years. This isn't because they imitate anybody (though obviously their influences are displayed proudly on their sleeves) nor is it because their music is generic in any kind of way - it's simply because they've perfectly captured the youthful exuberance that the fuzzy pop/punk of the 90s impressed upon an entire generation.

The Blind Wink takes on board a host of previous styles - as Amos from the band states, 'it runs the gamut of fuzz pop like the Swirlies, punk/pop like the Descendents, and more minimalist Big Star styled pop songs'. The overall punk feel to the record is probably the most pronounced aspect, but the incorporation of various indie rock tenets really complements Tenement's sound. Bands like Grandaddy or even Built to Spill are channelled through the music, reinforcing The Blind Wink's even greater grounding in the 90s.

If you're 22 and embittered by your vanishing youth, this album is probably perfect for you. While it makes me feel like a child again, it does it in a way that is far from childish. With mature composition and a mature approach to the genre, The Blind Wink's entire purpose is to recreate the naivity and optimism only someone half my age could have. And believe me, they have succeeded.



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user ratings (17)
4
excellent


Comments:Add a Comment 
rasputin
December 15th 2011


14968 Comments


rasputin reviewing pop/punk what is the deal

album can be streamed here - http://tenement.bandcamp.com/album/the-blind-wink

info to buy it is on their blogspot - http://temement.blogspot.com/

rasputin
December 15th 2011


14968 Comments


nvm

pizzamachine
December 15th 2011


27670 Comments


All aboard the nostalgia train eh? I'll buy a ticket.

MO
December 15th 2011


24113 Comments


Heard one song from this at a band practice and forgot to check it out. Thanks for that! Good review rasp.

theacademy
Emeritus
December 15th 2011


31865 Comments


despite positive treatment for scrubs, im gonna get this i think

rasputin
December 15th 2011


14968 Comments


dont tell me you didnt like scrubs 5-6 years ago coz if you do that's bull

TheSpirit
Emeritus
December 15th 2011


30304 Comments


scrubs is awesome

rasputin
December 15th 2011


14968 Comments


not anymore it isn't

i only actually watched 6th season onwards earlier this year, and they were relatively awful

Duderino
December 15th 2011


830 Comments


i find something about scrubs to be profoundly depressing.

Deviant.
Staff Reviewer
December 15th 2011


32288 Comments


There are a days


rasputin
December 15th 2011


14968 Comments


lol right at the beginning how did I even miss it

cheers J

pmmets07
December 15th 2011


5984 Comments


so did this band put out 2 LPs this year? that's crazy

edit: just read that apparently napalm dream was recorded in 2009 but wasn't released till this year?
so that answers that. i gotta listen to this.

rasputin
December 15th 2011


14968 Comments


yeah

i haven't heard napalm dream though (or any of their other material for that matter)

this was just a random submission but i really liked it

Wizard
December 15th 2011


20564 Comments


dont tell me you didnt like scrubs 5-6 years ago coz if you do that's bull

Never watched an episode in my life and I plan on keeping it that way. Good review, pop ain't my thing though.

rasputin
January 20th 2012


14968 Comments


yah doubt you'd like scrubs karl, or this

mryrtmrnfoxxxy
January 9th 2014


16699 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

rules

mryrtmrnfoxxxy
January 13th 2014


16699 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

just mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

mryrtmrnfoxxxy
January 13th 2014


16699 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

i like this a whole lot better than napalm dream :x

mryrtmrnfoxxxy
March 7th 2014


16699 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

bump

mryrtmrnfoxxxy
June 6th 2014


16699 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

2 lps and 2 comp lps this year fuk yea



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