‘Pursuit of Momentary Happiness’ manages to harness even more of the band’s unpredictable live energy while careering between boggle-eyed riffy bangers and booze-sodden self-reflection in truly inimitable fashion.
Yak truly want every twist and turn of Momentary to be a surprise. They want the dark corners that throw you around to remain memorable while ensuring to provide those moments that allow you to really digest what’s happened and to get your guard down.
Pursuit of Momentary Happiness isn’t as consistent as its predecessor, but its moments of punk gusto find Yak at their mightiest peak.
Yak match raucous, restless energy with uncommon gravitas, making this the rare garage rock-informed record that aims for the upper reaches of Royal Albert Hall.
Yak yet again confirm their music exists in a perfect paradox that englobes the apparent recklessness rock'n'roll feeds on and a complete and meticulous control over the way it is finalised and delivered.
Such a broadening of consciousness blends nicely with Yak's gut-level execution, resulting in an uncannily absorbing slice of neo-psychedelia.
With no intent on living off of past glories, Burslem and co. are keen to move forward and it shows. It's by no means a perfect record, but it sure sounds like they're setting themselves up for one.
There may be some good ideas here, and political awareness and a lack of fear to share those ideas should always be applauded, but as a record in 2019, Pursuit of Momentary Happiness doesn't even offer the moment for which it searches.
Certain elements of Psychedelica Creep in but not Noticeably enough, as Yak are much more akin to 70s Party Rock bands like Slade than they are to - as some have put them besides - Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin.
Regardless, they can pack a punch of their own and sometimes too excessively for it to have anything at all. Fried is one of example of this but it definitely does grow more on you after a while.
And Others, hit you immediately - examples of these are Words Fail Me, Pay Off vs the ... read more
Going to make another rough leap but, no noticeable leap forward.
And I can't get rid of the feeling that it's shabby than first Album
#2 Fried / #7 White Male Carnivore
#8 Pay off vs. the Struggle / #10 Layin' It on the Line
1 | Bellyache 3:41 | |
2 | Fried 3:22 | |
3 | Pursuit of Momentary Happiness 3:24 | |
4 | Words Fail Me 4:15 | |
5 | Blinded by the Lies 3:01 | |
6 | Interlude 1:09 | |
7 | White Male Carnivore 3:24 | |
8 | Pay off vs the Struggle 4:03 | |
9 | Encore 2:17 | |
10 | Layin' It on the Line 4:20 | |
11 | This House Has No Living Room 8:32 |