Wordier than early Bright Eyes, more lo-fi than Sentridoh and catchier than any Katy Perry hit, the Famous Sandhogs is by far the most prolific underground project since Anton Newcombe’s epic string of mid-90s releases. Gloriously honest and personal, the bulk of these 17 tracks will get your head nodding (“Rabbit Goes Soft Foot”), shouting along to choruses (the brilliant “Cain’s Outburst”) and questioning your sanity (“Stop Making These”) in all the right ways. Some might call such improvised experimental tracks as “Johor and the Giants” masturbatory, but it’s all part of the idea of Vol. 3, and the other Sandhogs releases - that experimentation, spontaneity and the fact that the music is being made, delivered as a piece, is the goal. It’s beautiful, fun, aggressive and daring.

Published in Volume 68, Number 23 of The Uniter (March 12, 2014)