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Album Review: Violent Femmes - Happy New Year

Mark Beresford
StarStarStarHalf Star

"This album's bizarre Delta/swamp beats and frantic saxophone breaks shows the band still has tasty new tricks."

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Originally only released on vinyl for Record Store Day, Happy New Year now sees the world via digital release, marking the first new music from the Violent Femmes in 15 years.

Fans will be happy to hear it’s not a great departure from their established sound, Happy New Year Next Year and Love Love Love Love Love rolling with their tried and true acoustic surf pop licks over Gordon Gano’s nasally geek-rock lyrics, but it’s Good For/At Nothing with its bizarre Delta/swamp beats and frantic saxophone breaks that shows the band still has tasty new tricks.