Vietnam--Vietnam (2007)

Artist-Vietnam
Album-Vietnam
Release Date-Jan 23, 2007
Genre/Style-Indie Rock
Size-83M
Quality-HQ

Biography-Brooklyn's darkly hypnotic rock outfit Vietnam is the brainchild of vocalist/guitarist Michael Gerner and guitarist Josh Grubb. Upon discovering that both were inspired by Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, the Velvet Underground, and Sonic Youth, the pair began writing and playing songs together, eventually expanding into a full band that included drummer Michael Foss. Vietnam signed to Vice Records, who released their debut EP, The Concrete's Always Grayer on the Other Side of the Street, in 2004. After playing some shows with All Night Radio, a project of former Beachwood Sparks guitarist Dave Scher, Vietnam began collaborating with Scher and Maroon 5's Mickey Madden, who signed on as executive producer of the band's full-length album. Madden, along with co-producers Scher and Jason Lader, recorded Vietnam at Los Angeles' Sound City Studios with vintage analog equipment. Jenny Lewis, Paz Lenchantin, and Future Pigeon's horn section also contributed to the sessions. The digitally released single Welcome to My Room arrived in fall 2006, while Vietnam's self-titled debut album was released by Kemado Records early in 2007.

Review-by Heather Phares Switching to Kemado after a brief stay at Vice Records, where they released their impressive debut EP, The Concrete's Always Grayer on the Other Side of the Street, Vietnam returned with their self-titled full-length. While they're still playing the same kind of hazy, narcotic poet-rock they introduced on the EP, this time around the results are hit-and-miss. One of the biggest problems with the album is its sound. While The Concrete's Always Grayer on the Other Side of the Street wasn't lo-fi, its sweaty, gritty production gave Vietnam's songs warmth and conviction. Vietnam was recorded in Los Angeles' famed Sound City studio, and unfortunately this more polished approach diminishes the band, making their sound thinner and more shrill than it was before. This doesn't do the ambitious sprawl of their music any favors. Though "Step on Inside" makes good use of the album's wall-of-sound production, more often it tends to show how big the gap between the band and the sound they're reaching for is. Tracks like the anti-materialism lament "Mr. Goldfinger" and lengthy junkie requiem "Toby" (one of many references on the album to near-fatal overdoses) come off as heavy-handed. Not all of Vietnam feels this strained, though. "Too Tired" and "Apocalypse" originally appeared on The Concrete's Always Grayer on the Other Side of the Street, and sound nearly as good here as they did on the EP, and the band sounds much more genuine when they're having fun instead of trying for a grand gesture. "Welcome to My Room" chugs along on a heavy, Velvet Underground-inspired groove, then pauses for breath only to rev up again, while "Gabe" revels in the possibilities of a Spanish vacation. "The Priest, the Poet and the Pig" is a rousing highlight with some inspired guitar solos — in fact, the consistently great guitar work is probably the best thing about the album. Vietnam is uneven and more than a little disappointing compared to the band's previous work, but despite its frustrating moments, it still shows that they have potential.

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