Young Heart Attack - Mouthful of Love

As a child who grew into adulthood experiencing the different eras of Rock music and loving the passionate voices and hypnotic sounds emitting from my brother’s room, I look forward to listening to current bands that evoke the spirit of yesteryear. You know, the music that renders your head to nod or the music that moves and inspires you prior to that Friday night-on-the-town. By now, you may be asking your screen, “What are you talking about, Jill?” I’m talking about my new-found passion for Austin rockers, Young Heart Attack! Formed three years ago by members Chris Hodge (guitar, vocals) and Steven T. Hall (bass) after the two had played with a number of sundry outfits (including some members of …Trail of Dead), the boys decided that it only seemed logical to rock together. After the addition of the ginger-snap vocals of Jennifer Stephens, the consistent drumming of Joey Shuffield, and the implausible guitar work of Frenchie (which is just THE coolest name), these young hearts set out on an attack of their audiences' nervous systems. Young Heart Attacks music exonerates the calm of particular current music trends and requires you to move one or more body parts—and if you start with the tap of a toe, you will end with the flailing of each and every part you own. Just ask my body. The debut release Mouthful of Love(XL Recordings/Beggars Group) is an earful of nostalgic rock’n’roll, with traces of metal from beginning ‘til end. The six-piece launched their audio/visual beat-down on SXSW-goers in their hometown with heavy, balls-to-the-wall guitar riffage, roar’n’rumble drum and bass rhythm, and let me not overlook how Stephens’ feminine power is a perfect compliment to Hodge’s masculine shrieks and screams. The instant my stereo underwent spewing out the title track “Mouthful of Love,” a smile of absolute satisfaction extended from ear-to-ear. Before hearing the complete album, I knew this had to be the feel-good album of the year and that the feel-good song has to be “Starlite,” a tune that begets those hot and steamy summer evenings as a lust-stained teen. Ah, those were the days. I can’t grasp what it is about the lines “You make me feel like a man/Can you understand?” and the manner in which Hodge delivers them. Maybe it’s his burning question that requests an answer? And if so: yes! I do understand! While all the tunes are catchy and delightful, I must mention YHA’s virtuoso cover of MC5’s “Over and Over,” and kiddies, they do it much-justice. Speaking of covers, the lady and gentlemen do a buzz-worthy cover of AC/DC’s “Get It Hot” and perform the fan-adored “Sunset Sinner,” both of which are on the March 29 release of their single, “Tommy Shots.” Go; pick it up if you don’t already own it. Having just ended their European tour on June 22 in support of many amazing bands, including Mooney Suzuki, YHA have no plans of slowing down and promise to rock us…forever. The band exudes enduring creative energy and a deep down refreshingly youthful clean. I was tickled pink at how much I loved this disc and give it five rock-hands up!! [www.youngheartattack.net]