Cloud Nothings

Add Date: January 24 

Artist: Cloud Nothings 

Album: Attack on Memory 

Label: Carpark 

Genre: Rock 

Comments: From the promoter: "Cloud Nothings began as a bedroom project for Dylan Baldi, dabbling in lo-fi power-pop jams. After three years of constant touring, a handful of EPs, and a full-length album under his belt, Baldi has accomplished his most ambitious work to date. By shedding the juvenile grittiness of Baldi's earlier releases, Attack on Memory tightens up production, adds complicated compositions and displays how a young band can quickly mature. With fiery guitars and epic noise rock moments on tracks like 'Wasted Days', and keeping true to their roots with grainy power-pop on tracks like 'Fall In', Cloud Nothings pull out all the stops on Attack on Memory."

Baldi and his band teamed up with ace producer Steve Albini for Attack on Memory, and this is indeed a mature, accomplished alternative rock album. The only thing that one might label as juvenile would be Baldi's bratty vocals, but that's one of the key things that make Cloud Nothings' music work. And now, rather than getting lumped in with the myriad other lo-fi, garage rock bands out there, Baldi and co. are channeling the likes of Nirvana (there's the Albini connection again) and Fugazi.

While I'll stop short of calling Attack on Memory a masterpiece, this is very, very good stuff. Spin "Fall In", "Cut You", "Stay Useless" and "Our Plans", and be sure to save time for the 9-minute epic "Wasted Days".