Philadelphia’s The War on Drugs has slowly become blogosphere darlings on the strength of their gorgeous new album Slave Ambient. Having earned indie rock praise since the release of their debut Wagonwheel Blues in 2008, the band has since parted ways with founding member Kurt Vile, who has gone on to solo success. Adam Granduciel took over lead songwriting duties and the band has evolved their hypnotic rock n’ roll sound on this year’s release. Playing Portland, Oregon’s Bunk Bar last Tuesday night they proved worthy of the hype.
Beginning with opener “Arms Like Boulders” the band mesmerized with a powerful and delicate blend of rhythmically rollicking acoustic guitars and a sturdy groove. Granduciel is able to echo his idol with Dylan-esque incantations that are both unintelligible and elegant. The War on Drugs’ songs are linearly structured without dynamic twists and turns. Instead of relying on quickly shifting tempos and odd time signatures the band succeeds with a propulsive movement through through major chord vamps that slowly morph and stutter into a warm whirl of melodic bass lines and graceful tremolo guitars. Because the band nimbly coaxes hopeful, shoegaze jams from the bones of traditionally arranged rock songs they are able to cross-sect musical landscapes and draw in listeners who may otherwise be turned off by ambient interludes. Often creating a vibrant shimmer of white noise by stacking sheets of reverb atop darting harmonica lines and deconstructed drum patterns, the music stretches patiently into the stratosphere with wide-eyed melodies running underneath in support. Akin to Spiritualized filtered through urban Philadelphia, the band is often cited as Springsteen influenced. Undoubtedly, a mournful Nebraska-era sensibility drives the melodic reverie but this is only the Boss after a codeine laced blunt. By creating atmospheres within and around their melodies, The War on Drugs expanded the walls of Bunk Bar. It’s easy to feel the rock n roll brawn underneath the smoke but it is these lush textures that guide a head into the cosmos.
