Chimpomatic | The Hunches Review - Exit Dreams - 2009

Portland band The Hunches have been pounding the road for several years now, and Exit Dreams marks their third full-length record - out on label indie In The Red. Opener Unraveling defines the band well, combining a Punk Rock sensibility with something of an epic rock ambition, illustrating best what the US contributed to Punk Rock. The band maintain that early 80's disaffection with the mainstream and charge on with their battle-cry cranked up past 10.

Unfortunately the production falls way short of the ambition and the record sounds like it was recorded on an ansaphone. In the 80s. DIY bands like No Age have harnessed both the limitations of their available technology AND their lo-fi influences - and turned them into something extra, but here the production just makes me not want to bother listening.

From This Window plods through the fuzz, while any hint of charm is distorted away on Swim Hole. Not Invited threatens to break the curse, but just can't lift itself high enough. I don't know what the deal is with the raft of badly produced records we have seen recently. Is it a trademark sound? With technology where it is, it's hard to believe that you could accidentally make a record sound this bad.

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Add your comments

Jarrod

Jesus man why did you review this band if you're so closed minded about the genre?

15th Nov 2011 5:09am

HUNCHES SUCK!!!

I agree with amused at cultishness and King Chump who both bring up great points. Just because a music "writer" knows nothing about music history, genres, or an album's song order, he/she should still be able to completely pan a band they no nothing about in an official review. Also, why should you have to listen to an album on anything but computer speakers. How else could you make snap judgements after downloading things for free off the internet?

7th May 2009 6:48pm

Eric the admin

Myspace comments on this review and another downer here. I think the negativity from both sides has been blown out of context.

7th May 2009 12:47pm

amused at cultishness

Since when is a shit record good, just because you listen to it on vinyl, on a good set of speakers - and why should you have to? Total shit. These guys are in a cult or something.

7th May 2009 12:40pm

amused at idiocy

Not really anything to add, but this album is beautifully recorded. Listen to this on a decent set of speakers (vinyl, blah blah) and try to argue otherwise. The piecing together of different sounds is perfect. Songs range from gorgeous JAMC with drone emphasis to electric eels to scuzzy, catchy-as-all-hell punk, all sounding cohesive. Swim hole sounds like the best, most focused song that Half Japanese never wrote (or could hope to write in 2008). Please, stop writing.

7th May 2009 4:45am

King Chump

Kevin Jones - why do you have to know the band to understand the album? Surely that isn't a good thing and that almost certainly means it isn't a masterpiece. I know the band and it still sucks.

4th May 2009 12:14pm

Mattey

I hate english majors. This review is embarrassing.

1st May 2009 8:51pm

big dave

it's really shit

1st May 2009 1:04pm

The Headmasters Ritual

Almost every pro-Hunches comment has a spelling or grammar mistake. Dats all im sayin.

30th Apr 2009 10:44pm

cameron crowe

The problem is that this album is fucking real. To real to understand.

30th Apr 2009 9:14pm

killchipomatic

worst website ever. who knew a place like this existed. please stop writing about music

29th Apr 2009 12:12am

KKDM77

Hunches = genius.

Naysayers have plenty of other crap to keep them cajoled. Please move on and get out of our way.

24th Apr 2009 2:46am

Kevin Jones

I record bands all the time - I even write for Tape Op, which is all about recording - and I can say that this is one of the best recordings I've ever heard. Why? Because it's inventive. It uses noise as one of the instruments, just like all of their other records. But if you don't know the band, why would you understand this masterpiece? Thank god you don't, because if you did, it would be the '90s all over again, when lame-os like you ruined good music.

23rd Apr 2009 10:59pm

Big T

Some shocking spelling from these Hunches fans. I heard it. It's shit.

15th Apr 2009 4:58pm

fuckchipomatic

clueless motherfuck

11th Apr 2009 1:48am

-BIC

Wow . . . Almost reads like someone in the band might have written this review as a joke. If this guy is for real, he should retire as a "reviewer." Unfortunately the Hunches are calling it quits, instead of this painfully clueless twit.

25th Feb 2009 3:20am

phono

this guy has no fucking idea. Keep listening your last trend records.

24th Feb 2009 8:01am

tomtucker

seriously he has absolutely no idea what he is talking about...i feel embarrassed for him 1 thing 2 have diff. opinion but bad production????

23rd Feb 2009 9:02pm

Larry

The reviewer is an idiot. End of story.

23rd Feb 2009 8:02pm

Robvertigo

Wow. And I think this is the best sounding production job I've heard in over 15 years.

It's the first thing I say when I talk to folks about it.
Production is ace to me...evidently to a lot of readers too.
?!?!
Weird.

20th Feb 2009 8:16pm

K-Man

You guys need to relaaaaaaax. I haven't heard this record but it sounds well shit.

17th Feb 2009 4:48pm

jenkins

this album kicks ass.

17th Feb 2009 3:20pm

Mikey

whoe ever wrote this is a fucking idiot!

17th Feb 2009 3:19pm

keith

ive read about 7 reviews about this album on the internet you guys are the first to give it a bad one huh.only hipster bands get good reviews on this site!

17th Feb 2009 3:12pm

niggy knox

I'll punch this retarded guy who wrote this review if i ever see him or her FAAAAAAAAAAGGGGG!!

17th Feb 2009 3:06pm

C.H.

exit dreams is a great fucking album!!!

17th Feb 2009 3:05pm

joey

i think this reviewer has down syndrome.

17th Feb 2009 3:03pm

fonzie

amazeing songs and recordings, fuck you.

16th Feb 2009 10:41am

will

I agree best album ive heard in about a year i will be reading my reviews elsewhere from now on.blows away anthing no age has ever done!!!!!

15th Feb 2009 11:15am

Thein mother

The sound on this album is perfect. You have no idea what you're talking about.

14th Feb 2009 12:24am

L'Immortel

Clunky French revenge actioner, with Jean Reno hunting down les mobsters that put 22 bullets in him.

Exit Dreams