Tweet

Album Details

• Artist: Chavez
• Album: Ride The Fader
• Label: Matador
• Year of Release: 1996
• ME Rating: Indie Classic
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2006-06-09

I do have to admit that I missed this album on release. I gave it a glance but that was about it. My bad. Ride The Fader has stood the test of time and is every bit as relevant as it was when it first came out. The album kicks off with the monstrous "Top Pocket Man" with some of the most thundering guitar playing the 90s ever saw. Then they tone down ever so slightly with "Unreal Is Here". Matt Sweeney (Zwan, Superwolf) stretches his vocal abilities on "New Room", a track that starts out fairly gentle only to build up to a nice climax. Songs like this show what great restraint Chavez had. John Agnello does a great job with production of this album. It's the sort of album that you have to have good production in order for the dynamics to stand out properly. Take the frantic "Tight Around The Jaws" as an example of this production work. Vocals take a back seat to the bands cacophonous instruments. The Jawbox style of "Cold Joys" is quite refreshing as well. It's heavy but has hope. I actually enjoyed the spastic "Flight 96", a style of rock that I would usually shy away from.
There have been rumors of Matt Sweeney getting the group back together again. I say go for it. If I missed out on Chavez first time around, chances are that others did too. Pick up Ride The Fader. You shan't be disappointed.

User Reviews and Comments

Log In or Register to Rate Albums