by Kris Handel (@khandel84)
Over their first two albums Youbet (Nick Llobet and various associates) have proven themselves to be amongst the most innovative indie psych pop bands today. Llobet’s songs have always had this mystery to them, both lyrically and musically, that need to be untangled, which is truly an exciting task time and time again. On this self-titled record, Llobet and Micah Prussack (bass/vocals) continue down the path of experimentation, mixing guitar outbursts with dark and evocative melodies that find a way to burrow into your brain with ease. Llobet’s guitar playing has always been intoxicating and fluid, dipping into the exotic territories found on their previous records. On Youbet, there’s an even nastier tone that truly shows Llobet’s inherent ability to meld styles and rhythms.
“Groundkiss” kicks off the record with earth-shaking, reverb-drenched guitars as Llobet and Prussack’s vocals ring harmoniously amidst pulsating bass work and floating keys. With production provided by Katie Von Schleicher and Julian Fader, the layers of the Youbet’s opener are bright and punchy. The song sways and stops at a halt and Llobet’s distorted guitar crashes in crunchy waves recall late-80s Dinosaur Jr. “Fertile Eyes” is driven by pounding drums and ringing guitars and keys that add a bright, almost tropical warmth before dropping out to clanging acoustic guitar and an impressively strong rhythm section. Llobet’s lyrics come off poetically and his rising vocals assert themselves over the shifting song structures and kaleidoscopic sounds coming at the listener from every direction.
“Undefined” is one of the sweetest tracks in the Youbet discography, but there is a profound sourness in the tale of finding oneself through various trying times of life and faith. Llobet’s vocals rise and fall heartbreakingly, combining a lyrical bareness with a solemn veil of abstraction that pulls at the feelings of the listener as the song goes from sweet, poppy slide guitar to crashing, harsh explosions. “Receive” is a furious rush of blood in song form; Llobet’s vocals simmer with anger and intensity as he asserts his own individuality against outside voices and forces while Prussack’s bass bounces with sheer abandon.
Youbet finds Nick Llobet asserting himself with bold physical soundscapes and a profound lyrical intensity that brings tremendous amounts of depth and character to these songs. These tracks bound wildly with all sorts of intrepid melodic ideas that magically hit the mark. This is the sound of a band that continues to grow in their ever-expanding and hypnotic musical universe. Youbet is a masterful example in its woozy sound, as the production places these tracks in a warm and evocative pocket that allows them to brightly shine. Youbet are clearly taking off on a path that shows their ability as they build an imposingly beautiful catalogue of songs and albums that are sure to excite for a long time to come.