Detroit’s lo-fi-obsessed garage group NEWBORNS have released a new album titled, We Are Newborns: a follow-up to their October EP All Our Friends Went Hi-Fi.
The garage-rock duo, consisting of Michael Younker (guitar/vocals) and John Zimmerman (drums), recorded the 12-track album at Younker’s family home in Metro-Detroit. Additionally, the audio samples preceding many of the album’s tracks are provided by Younker’s grandfather within a collection of 1960s cassette tapes.
The first, and self-titled, track of the album introduces listeners to the band’s intensely lo-fi sound. The upbeat blues-rock rhythm is accompanied by Younker’s semi-indistinguishable, ultra-lo-fidelity vocals. The song even dips to an inaudible level at 1:35, but returns to full volume within a few seconds.
“White Levi’s,” the album’s sixth track, begins with an obscure, spoken recording from Younker’s grandfather’s cassette samples. The track demonstrates the power of NEWBORNS’ punk-inspired simplicity. Zimmerman’s constant hammering of his toms and snare make for a rhythm-heavy, locomotive of a punk track.
The song’s audio sample says:
“I am a doctor. I can’t wear white Levi’s. You are probably human. You have all the luck.”
NEWBORNS have executed an original testament to garage-rock/punk/lo-fi/scuz within their newest release. This album is for any listener who enjoys warm and fuzzy guitar riffs, ambient vocals and unmistakeable punk rhythms.
Other track favorites include: “A Night with Evan Williams”, “Slick Roads” and “Hamtramck.”
Download We Are Newborns here.