Minneapolis’ Howler managed to get major buzz in the U.K. on the back of garage-rock that wasn’t that inspired or original, but was a lot of fun, in 2012’s America Give Up (QRO review). The band is back with World of Joy, which shows little growth, and isn’t as much fun, second time ‘round, but is nice enough.
From “Al’s Corral” at the start to the acoustic “Aphorismic Wasteland Blues” to close, World of Joy is a world of catchy, simplistic garage-rock. It can get speedier (“Drip”, “Louise”), or swing (“In the Red”, “Indictment”), but it’s always in the garage. There are moments of something more, like the sweeter “Don’t Wanna”, but it’s largely not as infectiously fun as America.
If you want garage-rock, you’re pretty much spoiled for choice, and Howler is definitely a decent one with World of Joy, even if not much more than that.
Howler – Don't Wanna
