The Muslims The Muslims

Recently renamed The Soft Pack, The Muslims released their self-titled record 9 months ago through 1928 Recordings. Frankly, I'm surprised I am only getting turned on to them now.

Let's get a few things straight first.

Number one: "The Muslims" was an awful band name. Aside from irony, and a shortsighted controversial vehicle to drone up discussion, it really did nothing for them. It's also reasonably difficult to parse through search engine results enough to find these guys, as Google has a wealth of information on all things Muslim. "The Soft Pack," however, illicits all sorts of awful imagery. A pack of cigarettes? Really? It's a relief that a lacklustre name does not detract from the quality of this band's music.

Number two: It's fairly tangential that I enjoy The Muslims, as I appreciate the Strokes, Modern Lovers, Stooges, and the Velvet Underground. It's nearly impossible to hear over half of this album without conjuring two out of these four bands at once (if not three).

Number three: This does not bother me. Don't write The Muslims off as just another derivative garage rock shtick; Try to heed their own advice: "Everybody's talkin' 'bout rock and roll...don't let it go to your head, that's all" (Future Rock).

With their a crisp debut record, these darlings of the Insound.com staff music selections (how I stumbled upon the album) really do put out a fine effort.

Recorded with Jon Greene and Andrew Miller in San Diego, and mastered with Paul Gold, the infectious 12" contains seven perpetual cuts that are flooded with straightforward hooks, a few searing unapologetic fuzz freak outs, and a steady tempo. The pace of the first side is break-neck, yet moderately danceable, and completely satisfying. But towards the end of side two, the hooks momentarily stop being force-fed, and a slightly abstract approach dulls the overall cadence of the record on the whole (Religion). This is a more poignant anti-climax for the 12", as the record begins to fade into a halfhearted noisy obscurity. Thankfully, the CD copy issued alongside the record features three bonus tracks Nightlife, Bright Side, and Extinction, which round out the second half of the effort with the same Pop vigor that riddled the front end. After contacting the label about the (un)availability of the vinyl, I learned that they "...are in the process of repressing the album, which will appear as a ten song LP with a digital download complement in February." A wise move, as Extinction makes an exceptional closer.

The wax initially caught my eye for the minimalistic, yet unique packaging. The band discloses that "the vinyl jackets and sleeves were silk screened by us, inserts are hand typed, and the jackets were shot by a former New York City Police Officer." (Nice!) No word on whether the February release will be given the same treatment.

Until then, be sure to visit the band's website to get hooked.

P.S. How about "The Ex-Muslims"?