Ultimately, ‘Artisans & Merchants’ is a fine return from one of the more interesting acts from a bygone era. But, by never sounding like their contemporaries, their previous output hasn’t remained frozen in time.

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Distorted Sound

Artisans & Merchants, in a word or two, is simply lovely and relaxing. Yet throughout you’re constantly engaged and despite the calmness THE VAN PELT do focus a lot on elements from genres which one would consider the opposite of calm: punk, alt-rock and psychedelic rock.

The Van Pelt's work in their early days was on a course of its own, and Artisans & Merchants continues that restless exploring.

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NTTR

The Van Pelt - Artisans & Merchants

Genre: Indie Rock
Country: US

Final Verdict: 56% (Pleasant Album)
Yearly Ranking: 225th / 281

Highlight: Grid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W6CV5eL7wk

Made me think of:
Pavement
Dinosaur Jr.
Sonic Youth

Ruston All Over

I firmly believe Sultans of Sentiment is one of the most underrated rock albums of the 90's. So I was a bit skeptical before diving into this one, as I feared the "American Football syndrome", where the comeback album of an emo band does not quite live up to their previous work.

Verdict: It's okay. The vocals are very hit-or-miss, sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. The singles are probably the weakest tracks on here, they just feel extremely off, like if the band was trying ... read more

1w*

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Track List

1	We Gotta Leave 4:24
2	Image of Health 4:52
3	Artisans & Merchants 3:38
4	Punk House 3:55
5	Old Souls from Different Epochs 3:28
6	Grid 3:15
7	Cold Coconuts 4:06
8	Did We Hear the Same Song 5:00
9	Love is Brutal 7:14