The National Rifle

For the upcoming weekend, make sure you have brain cells enough to throw away at a National Rifle live performance. The Philadelphia-based indie rockers have brought you their third release called Man Full of Trouble EP consisted of 5 eclectic tunes for the prize of (damn!) 5 bucks! Yeah well, what are you gonna do? Uhmm... Buy it through their web joint!

Apart from their self-titled release in 2006, in 2008 these Philly kids released the Wage Life EP, a gritty mixture of indie-rock tinged with hints of Elvis Costello and Billy Bragg, so full of spirited punk vitriol and smart pop acumen that folks on both sides of the DIY divide were grinning in delight. But for the new stuff, we have to admit it’s getting better…all the time. Hence…

Man Full of Trouble EP is a joyous amalgam of established rock flair mixed with flute, sax and anything that makes you want to move. Repetition of chorus lines and the pulsing keys blended with crafty songwriting makes the EP a delightful experience. I don’t mean to compare the band with anything but the EP sounds like a successful collaboration between Bush’s Gavin Rossdale and Buena Vista Social Club, only if you convince yourself that the production is almost better. “Love Crack” is a danceable resemblance of Bush’s “A Tendency To Start Fires” butt add a dose of drum and sax solos. So in the end, it has almost nothing to do with the comparisons. On “I Think I Have A Tumor”, the band reveals their knack for playing Ehio Jazz opuses with likes of Mulatu Astatke. So sad it was just an EP, but so glad I am to know it was a promising one.

The band is currently enjoying sold-out cross-country dates with its friend and fan Jackson Rathbone (from the Twilight movies) and his band 100 Monkeys. But no matter how bright those spotlights get, The National Rifle will keep both feet planted in the world of sweaty basement shows, DIY ethics and feverish, faithful fans.

[mp3] The National Rifle "Love Crack"
[mp3] The National Rifle "I Think I Have A Tumor"

Thanks to Jeff Royer @ Black Lodge PR.
Pity we were a bit late to announce the tour dates.