{"id":4921,"date":"2019-04-17T05:00:48","date_gmt":"2019-04-17T05:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=4921"},"modified":"2019-04-15T17:39:59","modified_gmt":"2019-04-15T17:39:59","slug":"the-yawpers-human-question-bloodshot-records","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=4921","title":{"rendered":"The Yawpers \u2013 \u2018Human Question\u2019 (Bloodshot Records)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Denver trio The Yawpers fuse Americana and groove-heavy blues with raw punk aggression and have far outgrown their roots rock beginnings in recent years. Their last album, 2017\u2019s \u2018Boy In A Well\u2019, was a concept album, a tragedy set in WW1 France, about a mother abandoning her newborn child. Ambitious and passionate, main songwriter Nate Cook took his songwriting skills to another level on this album.<\/p>\n

But where do you go after such an ambitious project? Well, in contrast \u2018Human Question\u2019, their third album for the ever cool Bloodshot Records, was written and recorded over a 2 month period. Tracked live in a single room \u2018Human Question\u2019 has a live immediacy to it that perfectly suits the band\u2019s dual guitar\/drums set up. It sees Nate in a self-reflective mood rather than a self-destructive one, utilising his lyrical suss as a cathartic healing process.<\/p>\n

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Opener \u2018Child Of Mercy\u2019 builds on a nifty little blues riff over upbeat drums. Nate\u2019s vocals reaching falsetto as the song builds and builds to a distortion-filled industrial climax that would make Trent Reznor proud. One song in and already The Yawpers sound like no one else, as they defy genre tagging with an opening salvo.<\/p>\n

Nate has stated this album is therapy for past traumas rather than wallowing in depression and self-destruction. Yet, musically the band seems more diverse than ever before.<\/p>\n

The psychedelic-tinged title track is a Beatles-esque trip that straddles indie territory, the sort of thing Kula Shaker pulled off with great success back in the late 90\u2019s. They blend those same indie beats of new drummer Alex Koshak to great effect with garage rock power chords on \u2018Earn Your Heaven\u2019. A ramshackle breakdown full of scratchy noisemongering that takes the band into Blues Explosion territory, which is always a mighty fine place to be. And talking of such things, the dancefloor friendly \u2018Dancing On My Knees\u2019 has a Jon Spencer style smoothness about it too, and some crazy ass slide guitar goodness thrown in for good measure.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere \u2018Forgiveness Through Pain\u2019 is 70\u2019s boogie rock with Jack White dynamics thrown in, that gives a fresh modern twist.<\/p>\n

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The art of Springsteen style storytelling is ever present, Nate showing how much he has developed as a songwriter. Take the gentle, countrified vibes of the contemplative \u2018Man As A Ghost\u2019, where the mix of acoustics and hushed percussion are just enough to accompany his tale of a man with nothing left to give. \u2018Can\u2019t Wait\u2019 is a perfect slice of Americana. The juxtaposition of upbeat drums and lazy, laid back Tom Petty style vocal harmonies works real good here, and the addition of ringing tremolo guitar is just sublime to these ears.<\/p>\n

The eerie, yet exquisite \u2018Carry Me\u2019 has a \u2018Nebraska\u2019 quality to it. A laid bare and stripped back feel, just 3 guys in a room feeding of each other\u2019s energy. Such a passionate, yet gentle delivery, you actually feel like you are intruding on the recording. The instrumentation is minimal, leaving space for the vocals to breathe and build. Here Nate comes on like prime Steven Tyler doing gospel as the song reaches a climax. The ensuing sax solo just seals the deal really. A song to close your eyes and drift away to.<\/p>\n

The ten track album finishes with crisp, clean guitar tones and a Dylan-esque vocal delivery as Nate Cook takes us to church with \u2018Where The Winters End\u2019. He delivers his own personal redemption song, as uplifting and moving as it is solemn. It may leave you with a tear in your eye, but it will also leave with the feeling that everything is going to be ok.<\/p>\n

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The Yawpers cherry pick from folk, country and scuzzy blues. At times they are the MC5 or The Stooges, frantic and on edge, elsewhere they soothe the soul with acoustic led Americana, dark and desperate at times. Yet at all times they are cohesive and utterly captivating. I feel these Colorado rogues may well have delivered their most complete album to date.<\/p>\n

Author: Ben Hughes<\/p>\n

Buy ‘Human Question’ Here<\/a><\/p>\n

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