On Vee Dee’s third full-length, the Chicago scene veterans sound as if they live inside a pop music vacuum. While recognizable at first with their scruffy production and dampened guitar tones, Vee Dee is not an attempt at lo-fi, three-chord rock that dominates much of the local and national indie rock landscape. Instead, Vee Dee’s guitars wail with a devilish urgency on top of desolate rhythms. A raw, loose set of psychedelic garage-blues that’s compelling as it is familiar.

The phrase “pulls no punches” might be an understatement when applied to Vee Dee. The album opens with hammer to the skull-like monotonic hits on “Howling At The Sun.” But while the moodiness of the song continues throughout much of the album, the abrasiveness does not. Just as often the guitars are raucous and dirty, they’re also jangly and bright.

“Endless Night” has a bouncy, mid-1960′s feel complete with a punchy Keith Moon imitation from drummer Ryan Murphy. Guitars simmer at the start of “Therein Lies” until a crooked chorus melody takes it to an eerier level.

Yet the majority of the record still wades in a pool of chunky, dirty riffage. “Gypsy Iron” explodes to the start with some fat, furious guitar and an early punk snarl from lead vocalist and guitarist Nick D’Vyne. Vee Dee channel their early, MC5-leaning roots for the rambunctious “Same Arms,” while “Hello Angry Young Man” still maintains it’s driving energy while employing a “Na, Na, Na, Na/ Got no where to go/ Na, Na, Na, Na” hook.

Much of Vee Dee feels like a caged tiger – pacing back and forth yearning to be free. These songs yearn to be experienced live where the guitars stab the ear drums, the bass vibrates your lungs and the drums batter your brain.

Still, on record, Vee Dee is an unpretentious attack full of enough abrasive energy and mind-trip leanings to satisfy those who ache for a pure rock ‘n’ roll experience.

Vee Dee can be purchased at the BLVD Records online store.
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VEE DEE
9:00 p.m., Saturday, June 11
Panchos, 2200 N. California
$5
21+
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