Music Review: ¡Vamos!, Spiderbait

By Tim Murr

Chicago’s ¡Vamos! have released their debut full-length album, Spiderbait. It’s a raw, passionate, hook-filled, garage-punk slab of rock brilliance. This trio creates a big noise that may remind the listener of Teenage Fanclub by way of The Stooges without necessarily sounding like either band. They also remind me a fair bit of another great Midwest punk band, Columbus, OH’s Grafton.

To describe ¡Vamos! as high energy is an understatement, and this is true even for the album’s mid-tempo songs. Every track sounds like it was made by three guys who have never sat still in their lives. This is a party record for sure!

From the first track, “Pulling My Life Together (Always),” Spiderbait builds to a frenzy, song by song. By track four, “Jaded 86,” the album finds its footing and eventually cruises to a woozy finish with “Howl,” which jumps to life at around the three-minute mark and then staggers away, victorious.

The whole thing is over in under 40 minutes. I find my only gripe with Spiderbait is that I want more. Which I guess is also a good thing. And there’s certainly no filler.

Although any of the songs on Spiderbait would make perfect singles, the title track was chosen for that particular role and has a kick ass video to go along with the music.

Spiderbait was released by Maximum Pelt Records on July 22. You can listen also to the album on Bandcamp.