Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band

iTunes Review

The Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band asserts itself in odd and intriguing ways on its 2009 self-titled debut. Benjamin Verdoes (singer/guitarist) and his teenaged adopted brother Marshall Verdoes (drummer) form the throbbing heart of this self-consciously quirky Seattle quintet. The band draws from a rummage sale’s worth of influences — the twitchy rhythms of new wave acts like Gang of Four and Wire can be heard alongside ‘70s prog-rock bombast and Pixies-like pop effusions. Erratic tempo-shifts and volleys of lead guitar fire are reoccurring elements, sparking up tracks like “Who’s Asking,” “Dull Reason,” “Anchors Dropped,” and “Masquerade.” A few tunes — especially “Little Red Shoes” — lay down semi-danceable funk grooves. At the other extreme are slower, nerve-grinding pieces like “A Year or Two” and the interminable “On the Collar.” Tormented lyric themes are relieved by dollops of goofy humor and fractured imagery. Is this all weirdness for weirdness’ sake? It’s hard to tell at times. But the Mt. St. Helens Band shows enough wit and imagination to make the question worth exploring.