Review / 200 Words Or Less
Tel Aviv
Underwaters

Max Recordings (2007) — Scottie

Tel Aviv – Underwaters cover artwork
Tel Aviv – Underwaters — Max Recordings, 2007

Okay this will be hard, but just try and stay with me here. Imagine this: Franz Ferdinand crossed with Radiohead. I know; it's crazy, but a few listens to the latest EP from Tel Aviv and I think you'll find it hard to argue. Imagine a kind of new wave influenced rock that you'd probably be ashamed to tell your friends you'd dance to and mix that an overall tone of somber, melancholy.

With Underwaters manages to create a haunting mood, similar to that of Radio head's Kid A. Their singer even sounds a little bit like Thom Yorke on some tracks. Before you can get too depressed though the songs usually transition (nicely, too) into a kind of rock that sounds like it takes a large amount of influence from eighties brit-pop. I know you're thinking that this would never and should never work, but, somehow, it does.

The biggest surprise of all though, despite all the Euro influence, the band is not only from the states, but Arkansas of all places.

8.0 / 10 — Scottie • July 8, 2007

Tel Aviv – Underwaters cover artwork
Tel Aviv – Underwaters — Max Recordings, 2007

Recently-posted album reviews

​Pressure Set

​Pressure Set
Dr Strange Records (2026)

Punk rock has never needed complexity to make an impact. Sometimes, all it takes is a handful of riffs, a relentless rhythm section, and enough attitude to make the whole thing stick. Pressure Set understands that formula, but rather than simply recycling it, the band coats it in layers of filthy fuzz, garage-rock swagger, and an unexpectedly sharp melodic sensibility. … Read more

Blood & Sun

Aion's Light
Nordvis (2026)

The trajectory of Blood & Sun has been one of natural evolution. Starting off from rough demos, the project of Luke Tromiczak slowly became something more immersive and complete. The compositions grew richer, the songwriting more nuanced, and the production cleaner. However, the creative process does not necessarily have to be about looking forward and evolving, and in fact at … Read more

The Loved Ones

LATEST HITS!
Lovemonk Records, SofaBurn (2026)

I'll admit, when I first saw a new album from The Loved Ones land in my inbox, I got pretty excited. Being a fan of the Philadelphia punk band fronted by Dave Hause, I thought I was about to hear something I hadn't expected. Unfortunately, these weren't the Loved Ones I was looking for. However, what I discovered instead was … Read more