Don't Quit is certainly a fitting title for album number three from
the Buddyrevelles -- it arrives a full seven years after their sophomore effort, 2000's
American Matador, and would have been a fitting mantra for the trio as they bided their time, waiting for the fates to align in their favor again. And it's a good thing
the Buddyrevelles didn't give up:
Don't Quit hardly sounds like the work of a band that's been on hold, boasting ten sharp, intelligently crafted songs that strike a balance between indie rock tension and pure pop release.
Aaron Grant's guitar work fills the tunes with wiry single note lines and thick but precise chords that hold down melody and rhythm at once, taking the melodies down unexpected paths without making his performances sound cluttered or aimless, while bassist
Scott Hoch and drummer
Dan Reinholdt support the songs with sharp rhythms and just the right amount of color. The production, by
John Peacock and the group, is admirably clear and straightforward, allowing
the Buddyrevelles to sound like a band, and the album's no-frills approach is reflected in its running time -- just short of 32 minutes, without a wasted gesture or poorly considered moment to be found. The Buddyrevelles had plenty of time to think about
Don't Quit, and it shows not in a blur of ideas, but in a sharp, deliberate focus that reveals a gifted band to its best advantage, though hopefully they won't be forced to wait quite so long to make their fourth disc.