Used Cassettes
Rock n’ Rills
Reviewed by: Tiffany Taylor
South Korean rock n’ roll wave crashers, Used Cassettes, are finally releasing their full LP Rock n’ Rills. If you did not know what Asian fusion was before, be prepared to get it now. Used Cassettes is comprised of places around the globe: South Africa, Detroit, and Canada. They now reside in South Korea where they are praised for their salty and charismatic sound. Rock n’ Rills is old rock meets new, four individuals determined to comprise something unusually new. After listening to the record in full, it is not difficult to understand why these four would not be considered downright rock stars for their pure and effortless talent.
Rock n’ Rills keeps an overall theme throughout, not really reaching too far out or too far below the spectrum. Their rock sound is listenable by all means and keeps harsh tones as well as complimenting bright sounds as well. Take “Wasted” for example, a pretty intro with a rush of feeling within seconds. Used Cassettes accomplishes something a lot of bands fail to do and that is to be able to alternate back and forth from light to dark. “Ducati” does the same with its pretty melodies and low vocals. Their words are simple and to the point which leads me to believe their focus is on the music from start to finish.
The track that stands on its own from the rest is “Amy,” a song beautiful and somber with saturated guitar melodies. An obvious ode to a girl who basically sucks was awarded a track that mimics a soft rain on a summer evening. Following into “She Got Burned” is a more upbeat jam with a more dance heavy base. It is easily forgotten that they are singing about a girl because the sound is just too good to now swing around too and rock out too.
It is hard to say what Used Cassettes wanted to convey from the album, but either way they have jam-packed loss, thrill, and experiences into a long LP that will hopefully transcend continental boundaries. Each track holds something unique and careless about it that just reads how cool it is. Used Cassettes is giving the world a rock sound that deserves to be appreciated for its time and place. From the moment you put on “At Barcelona,” I bet you won’t even realize by the time you have gotten to “Rock n’ Rill.”
Rating: Iconic
