The Breeders - All Nerve
Formed in 1989 by Kim Deal of The Pixies and Throwing Muses’ Tanya Donnelly, The Breeders’ history has been marked by the highs of commercial success with the Last Splash LP and Cannonball singles and the lows of line-up changes and drug busts. All Nerve is The Breeders’ fifth studio album and the first in a decade. It sees Deal reunited with the classic Last Splash line-up of lead guitarist sister Kelley, bassist Josephine Wiggs and drummer Jim Macpherson.
This has a classic alt.rock feel that sounds like, well, The Breeders and will be welcomed by those that are already fans. For the unfamiliar, it treads a similar path to the likes of Mercury Rev or Pavement, with hints of Velvet Underground and Lou Reed. This isn’t an instant classic but repeated listens are well rewarded. Of the eleven tracks, it is only the ponderous Dawn: Making An Effort that hasn't won me over. The remaining tracks are all decent, with opener Nervous Mary, the distinctly snarky Wait In The Car and the string-enhanced Howl At The Summit bordering on excellent.
When all is said and done, this doesn’t push the boundaries but it is a good – at times great – LP from alt.rock elder stateswomen (and man) and that is strangely comforting.
