Artist: Look Mexico
Album: Real American Spear It EP
Genre: Indie Rock
Label: Adeline Records

Austin’s indie rockers Look Mexico are known for bridging the gap between the pop and math rock worlds while carrying heavy comparisons to bands from the 90’s emo movement, akin to American Football. Their debut album, This Is Animal Music hearkened back to the days when emo-pleaded punk was embraced while their follow up release, To Bed To Battle provided a dynamic shift in their sound and displayed a sense of maturity as they toned down their math-rock roots to play more straightforward rock. Chartering on unfamiliar territory, Look Mexico opened a window to other realms to further infuse pop into the mix. Some fans were left hoping they would revert to their old ways but they continued to push their own boundaries, leaving their anomalous song titles to be the reigning feature from a band we knew back in 2007. Look Mexico further expands their use of pop sensibilities while taking a more unified approach and on their latest EP, Real American Spear It.

The five track EP starts off on a somber note with opener “You Hungry? Good. Cause You’re Saying Grace,” as Matt Agrella sings, “This is your life, you’re on your own.” The bleak outlook is paired with underlying spacey guitar bits, handclapping, and an unwinding horn section which garners the listener’s attention from the beginning. Toe-tapping single, “Arrest? I Didn’t Feel Like I’m Under Arrest,” swoops in with an energetic rhythm section and peaks with a towering chorus for an enticing dramatic flair. The EP is filled to the brim with an experimental vibe within the instrumentals but the interlude, “Where Were You, Vince,” is where it’s most notable as a meandering melody of strings takes front stage. The record unfolds with “Runnin’ Ain’t Freedom (You Should Know That) as we hear Agrella at his best. His throaty vocal delivery exhibits a sensation of controlled anger while a repeated keyboard line flourishes in the background and amps up the energy.

The production and overall styling on Real American Spear It disables it from outshining its predecessors, but it demonstrates Look Mexico making strides to come into their own element after shifting their sound.  Raw energy and a poppy aura build the background of this EP and it works for them. Look Mexico continue to fly just under the radar but with an impressive discography under their belt, I won’t be surprised if their next full length pushes them towards the forefront of the indie world.

SCORE: 8/10
Written by: Nerissa Judd

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James Shotwell

James Shotwell is the founder of Under The Gun Review. He loves writing about music and movies almost as much as he loves his two fat cats. He's also the co-founder of Antique Records and the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. You should probably follow him on Twitter.

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