Two Inch Astronaut works quickly! Just about one year since the release of Personal Life, the suburban D.C. post-punk band already has album number four in the bag. Can You Please Not Help continues the pop-focused mind-meld of previous efforts with monster hooks and a musicianship that only comes with a boatload of experience.
J. Robbins (Jawbox, Burning Airlines) also returns to record and mix the new record, and you can hear weirdly catchy ear-candy of Jawbox's final record in "Snitch Jacket," the first single from Can You Please Not Help. There's a round and rumbling sound to bassist Andy Chervenak and drummer Matt Gatwood's rhythm section, as guitarist Sam Rosenberg alternates space effects and panning start-stop riffs.
"Let's hear it for your third attempt at trying to hack it in the real world," Rosenberg shouts with some real-talk — whether you're a 20-something or just endlessly haunted by past failures.
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