The Jim Yoshii Pile-Up
Absolutely Kosher Records
Alright, let's get one thing straight: there is no
one named Jim Yoshii in The Jim Yoshii Pile
Up. So put that thought right out of your
mind. Now, as for the "Pile Up" part, that's
another story. Oakland's JYPU have
displayed an impressive collection of emotions
and influences in their musical offerings to
date. Their releases explore the gentle purity of melancholy, the
brittle smiles of the desperate, and the
exhaustive chaos of the bitter. By infusing
late-period Bedhead and early
Mogwai with the kind
of vocal confidence and lyrical frankness so
commonly misused by the early '80s English
goth bands and late '90s Midwestern emo
punks, this group brings the intensely personal
ballad into the post-Slint age.
JYPU unleashes the potency of the
minimal and the glory of the extravagant and
the epic. They have also been known to rock.
This is their story: they started as a trio called
Andymat who played primarily for their
friends. When their friends took them seriously
they decided they were a real band, became a
five-piece, and changed their name. In 1999, they issued their five-song self-titled debut EP. Two years later the band returned with their first LP, It's Winter Here, on Absolutely Kosher Records. On that album, they more fully realized their unique synthesis of moody multiple-guitar instrumentalism and heartfelt emotional rock, perfecting an intelligent and distinct sound for closet emo enthusiasts everywhere.
The Pile-Up self-released a couple of EPs after that album and split a seven-inch with melancholic popsters Wussom Pow!. Then in 2002, the moodily pretty quintet issued its second LP, Homemade Drugs, which they recorded with acclaimed Bay Area producer Scott Solter (The Court and Spark, Tarentel) at John Vanderslice's Tiny Telephone studio. The songs don't rely on distortion and sonic force as much as on It's Winter Here, opting for a fragile, intricate, emotional beauty. Singer Paul Gonzenbach also sings more here, offering numerous moments of luminous and graceful introspection. Homemade Drugs represents a slight evolution in style for this highly regarded band, while underscoring their capacity for evoking strong emotional responses through complex, original compositions.
Jeanne Acceturo
last updated:
11/18/02
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Slint, Bedhead, The New Year, Rainer Maria
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