The Hunches – Last Exit (2009) [In the Red] // Grade: C

While not devoid of the same noise ridden charm of early Pavement & Blues Explosion, On Last Exit, Try as they might The Hunches almost always fail at channeling that chaotic energy into something memorable.

Caught between between garage rock & indie-pop, the Hunches never fully engage any one angle nor successfully fuse the the two styles together. All you get is glimpses of ambition… licks that you wish would turn into full-fledged grooves & melodies that come oh so close to getting stuck, but ultimately don’t. All the elements are there but save for “Not Invented” (a real gem of a track) they’re just never properly assembled.

While none of this prevents Exit Dreams from being an enjoyable listen, it does make it a frustrating one at what could have been.

- My Pal the Crook