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BOAT - "Dress Like Your Idols"

Rating: Many great things happen to musicians who become schoolteachers: Sting went on to front The Police, Robert Pollard went on to form Guided by Voices. David Crane, of esteemed Seattle indie rock band BOAT, is no exception. After his “miserable stint” as a teacher in Chicago, Crane moved to Seattle and pioneered what would soon become his creative outfit. After self-releasing and promoting two albums, BOAT signed to Magic Marker, with whom they would release two critically-acclaimed albums, including 2009′s Setting the Paces. This Spring brings BOAT’s newest, Dress Like Your Idols. Hailing to influences from early indie pioneers Modest Mouse and Built to Spill, the albums prides itself on its homegrown basement anthems. “Forever in Armition” is a highlight of the album, bringing together the craftsmanship of Crane’s songwriting abilities and the band’s energetic edge. Crane seems to channel Velvet Underground-era Lou Reed (whose parodied album cover is featured in the Dress Like Your Idols artwork) in “Bite My Lip” and “(I’ll Beat My Chest Like) King Kong” The breezy keyboard and guitar in “Landlocked” brings the band out of the garage and gives them a little sunlight on this Summer-worthy song. “Classically Trained” brings BOAT together at the album’s best charm, delivery, and edge, showing that whether or not “you’ve been classically trained” is irrelevant to BOAT. My only major qualm with the album is that “L-O-V-E” is only 47 seconds long, and shows a lot of potential to be a great song. Regardless, what this album delivers is indie rock unashamed of its roots, and unashamed of its devotion to making left-of-center rock ‘n roll. -David Hogg, Music Director