Multi-national indie quintet Yuck breeze into the Sound of 2011 longlist off the back of a steadily increasing buzz from the blogging community. The group, made up of London school friends Max Bloom and Danny Blumberg, New Jersey drummer Jonny Rogoff, Japanese bassist Mariko Doi and Blumberg's sister Ilana have been tipped as spearheads of both the grunge and shoegaze revivals on their path to wider acknowledgement.
Bloom and Blumberg formed Yuck as a result of twelve months exploring new material following the culmination of previous group Cajun Dance Party. Soon after Blumberg met US drummer Jonny at a kibbutz in the Israeli desert. A few months of phone calls and song sharing soon persuaded the American to sacrifice a New Jersey college degree in favour of London's music scene. It wasn't long before Japanese friend Doi answered the request for a female bassist, while Blumberg junior took breaks from her A level studies to provide backing vocals.
Yuck claim influences from the likes of Pavement, Sparklehorse and the Red House Painters, but are most commonly associated with Massachusetts rockers Dinosaur Jr and Glasgow's Teenage Fanclub, both of which they have supported in the midst of a busy series of well received live performances over the course of the past twelve months. Releases too have been forthcoming with Georgia, Suicide Policeman and most recently Rubber gaining the attention of Huw Stephens, Lauren Laverne and Zane Lowe. Acoustic side project Yu(c)k, and its Weakend EP, have also garnered favourable blog coverage. Now signed to the Mercury label, the band's reportedly finished debut album already sits high on the most wanted list for many in 2011.
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That is a shocking shortlist compared to previous years. Surprised that Blood Red Shoes aren't on it.
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@gjg1986 - I'd say this is the best list in years. Yuck are a fantastic example of the exciting new music coming out of the UK at the moment. And you're suggesting Blood Red Shoes?! Mate, they've been around for like 5 years now and have already released 2 albums.. Would be a bit silly of the BBC to use them.
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@Joshua Dixon - This is neither new or exciting, but quite derivative. Scan a few albums by bands from the states (4AD) or listen to a couple of British bands with US influence from the 90's and you will hear very much the same as this band.
Yuck is an unfortunate but quite apt name for the band.
I don't see them doing much sales wise, especially if listeners have a broad musical knowledge.
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