Local Album Review // Blunt Guts // The Destroyer

Basement Transmission Records

4/5 stars

Blunt Guts is the pseudonym that musician, artist, and Basement Transmissions owner Bob Jensen uses for his solo work (with appearances from longtime co-conspirator, guitarist Johnny Why?). The Destroyer is a follow up to last year's My Mom Thinks I'm Depressed, which features the same driving beats and entertaining samples you would expect from Blunt Guts. Why?, who previously collaborated with Jensen on projects Pegasus Unicorn and Jargonauts, brings a similar sound back on the opening track "Bullies," providing a spare country-blues backdrop for the Beastie Boys-esque call-and-response vocals before the songs peaks with an unexpected instrumental rave-up.

The second track "Heart Problems" is a shift in direction for Blunt Guts, showcasing a Brian Eno-inflected ambience, as do songs like album closer "Hot Head" featuring Nate Jeffery. The title track features a mix of '80s synth pop and reggae, with a melody that sticks in your head, giving the song a Wall of Voodoo feel. This is the fourth release from Blunt Guts (not including two remix albums) and shows real growth in songwriting and production. Blunt Guts may be, well, blunt at times, in the way the music is presented with brash effects, dreamy landscapes, and emotional lyrics, but it delivers an original sound that can't be denied.