| "There is no surer sign of a vacuum at the centre of pop than an upsurge of interest in tradition. The latest example from a burgeoning strain of self-conscious Americana are the Boggs, who come from New York City and look like the Strokes' younger brothers, but who are as interested in 1927 as 1977. Their debut album cheerfully yokes the antique jugband sound - clanky guitars, off-key fiddles and banjo - to their own songs. Their sound is so steeped in the forlorn traditions of old-time folk - they convincingly ape the scratchy atmosphere of 78rpm discs on some tracks - that it takes a few listens before you realise that songs such as 'Hard Times' and 'Emily O Emily' are about modern day Brooklyn, not ancient Appalacia. A great lo-fi romp that scrambles the line between garage-rock and one-room-shack blues." Neil Spencer, The Observer 1st September |