A long-overdue nod to a record that came out January 8:

Yiddish finds its place with The Shondes' progressive, feminist, queer-core riot record The Red Sea. Already the recipient of many Sleater-Kinney references, due at least in part to the warble of Louisa Solomon. The monotone but urgent shout harkens Ian Curtis when not dialing in Corin Tucker. On "Don't Whisper", alternate vocals remind me of Lori Barbero of Babes In Toyland taking the lead. Rocking out with Riot Grrrl in their hearts, The Shondes also allow their roots to come out on record, as strings with European flair decorate Red Sea, and the pain of a heart broken by love, hate, bigotry, systematic racism and oppression combine music and morality for a powerful punch.

"Your Monster" and "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" stomp the feet of lesser bands, and the chant-along bridge and fists-in-the-air riff of "The Mother And The Colony" evince the fact that a band can be serious without being boring. And lest this band fail to prove it's indie, recording assistant Andrew Falk provides the handclaps on "The Start of Everything". Perhaps The Shondes have something else up their sleeve with that song name. If The Red Sea is just the start, put me on the waiting list for the next record.

Tags: Album Reviews, New Releases, The Shondes