LP Review: "Retreat" by The Knitts

Retreat

It's about as common as any sight in these United States. How many times have you been watching a movie about the beautiful, Swinging 60's and there was some fictional band all over the movie?

There's one flick that my wife and I watched featuring James Gandolfini vehicle that has never left my consciousness, Not Fade Away.

Certainly, this is not a recommended use of your precious two hours. This movie will leave you confused, annoyed, and wishing you had your two hours back.

Like a thousand other cinema "classics," this one features a fictional band and the viewer sees them from the beginning to the breakup. As is the standard, no one who watches this movie will want to hear anything else of this band, but what about The Rutles, The Wonders, or the unflappable Spinal Tap?

People wanted to keep hearing from that last band.

The Knitts

The Knitts have the most in common with Spinal Tap than of the other two, why?

Because Spinal Tap was almost, kind of a real thing.

The thing is though, The Knitts sound more like the band in the terrible James Gandolofini movie than the rest.

The difference being that well, The Knitts are good.

As the album spins, this deceptive quintet seems to be simply a one trick pony: high energy garage rock.

Honestly, I had to wonder if I was going to make it through the entire thing.

As the songs come and go, there seems to be a little bit of disguised learnedness. Being a nerd in school back in the days when nerds were, well nerds, it's pretty easy to identify with that!

The Knitts move from shades of early Yardbirds to Middle Pink Floyd but all with youthful exuberance.

If you're in the mood for fast, high energy rock that winks at you knowingly, The Knitts's debut album, Retreat, will take you right where you need to be.

Release: 3/3/17
Genre: Roots Rock
Label: The Knitting Factory
Formats: CD/Digital
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