Morningwood: I'm Not Believing the Hype

You may have heard the name Morningwood thrown around in the music press attached to a label like "next big thing." I actually was unaware of them until their name began popping up next to We Are Scientists - first at Brooklyn Vegan, then in the New York Times. Given that their albums hit U.S. stores on the same day, they have frequently appeared next to each-other in record reviews. (For those at home keeping score: W.A.S. received a 6.7 from Pitchfork, 3 stars from Rolling Stone, a B- from Entertainment Weekly, and 3.5 stars from me; Morningwood received a 3.9 from Pitchfork, 3 stars from Rolling Stone, a B from Entertainment Weekly, and have not yet been given a score by me).

Their sound is about 20% new wave nostalgia plus 80% Darkness-esque metal pastiche, a formula not too different from the Donnas' 2002 "Spend the Night" (instead of "Take it Off," Morningwood has "Take Off Your Clothes"). I will refrain from being too mean at the risk of being accused of being some kind of elitist, but songs like "Jetsetter" and "Nu Rock" sound frighteningly like Ashlee Simpson. For those in the indie rock circles, Morningwood have kind of become target practice and not just because one of their members was in the Wallflowers. At the heart of this indie rock vs. mainstream rock battle is always the question of who has integrity, whose sound is genuine, and whose sound is manufactured to fit the latest trend. I won't go so far as to accuse Morningwood of the latter; I will say that their sound isn't groundbreaking, their hooks don't hook me, and if it is plain and simple pop music you are looking for - you can do better.