After a stressful holiday season, the best way to unwind is to play
an album like this in the car and push the limits of summer tires on
icy pavement. Within the catastrophic noise and mayhem of Young Widows’
post-punk wailings lies catharsis and redemption. Within everything
lies this Louisville, Kentucky trio aspires, and it is impossible to
miss the Jesus Lizard, Fugazi and Stooges elements. On songs such as
“Mr. No Harm” and “21st Century Invention,” the band doesn’t do much to
hide its idolatry. But nonetheless, Old Wounds is a stunning
achievement, and (quite paradoxically) a devastating but intimate
listen.
This article appears in Jan 15-21, 2009.
