Photo by Shawn Brackbill
As I mentioned in a write-up of their sophomore album, Hoodwink’d, New York’s LVL UP are experts in reworking ’90s-sounding indie rock gems for the modern age, “channeling both the rock brawn and playful charm of Pavement, Built To Spill, and Weezer.” For their upcoming third LP and Sub Pop Records debut, Return to Love, they continue to mine that same territory.
The 10-track collection was produced by Mike Ditrio, who’s worked on all of LVL UP’s previous albums, and is being previewed this week with “Pain”. Jaunty, winding guitars align with faded vocals that ache, “When you sleep do you dream of him?” The song has much in common with Built to Spill’s earlier work, such as 1994’s There’s Nothing Wrong With Love, which, coincidentally enough, was reissued by Sub Pop just last year.
Stream “Pain” up above; find the LP artwork and tracklist below.
Return to Love Artwork:
Return to Love Tracklist:
01. Hidden Driver
02. Blur
03. She Sustains Us
04. Spirit Was
05. Pain
06. The Closing Door
07. Five Men on the Ridge
08. Cut from the Vine
09. I
10. Naked in the River with the Creator
Additionally, LVL UP will hit take their new record on the road for a US fall tour.
LVL 2016 Tour Dates:
09/09 – Richmond, VA @ Gallery 5
09/10 – Raleigh, NC @ Hopscotch Festival
09/11 – Washington, DC @ DC9
09/20 – Boston, MA @ Great Scott
09/21 – Montreal, QC @ Pop Montreal
09/22 – Burlington, VT @ Arts Riot
09/23 – Durham, NH @ University of New Hampshire
09/24 – New York, NY @ Market Hotel
09/25 – Philadelphia, PA @ Philamoca
09/28 – New Haven, CT @ Bar
09/29 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
09/30 – Kingston, NY @ BSP
10/16 – Olympia, WA @ Track House
10/17 – Seattle, WA @ The Black Lodge
10/18 – Portland, OR @ Analog Cafe
10/20 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
10/21 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
10/22 – Pomona, CA @ VLHS
10/23 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echoplex
10/29 – Gambier, OH @ Kenyon College
10/30 – Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar
11/01 – Nashville, TN @ The High Watt
11/02 – Birmingham, AL @ The Syndicate Lounge
11/03 – New Orleans, LA @ Siberia
11/06 – Dallas, TX @ Three Links
11/09 – Omaha, NE @ Milk Run
11/10 – Madison, WI @ The Frequency
11/11 – Chicago, IL @ Subterranean
11/12 – Lansing, MI @ The Blind Pig