Blunt Mechanic
world record - BARSUK
FILTER Grade: 78%

After ending his 10-year band project Kind of Like Spitting, Ben Barnett began teaching guitar in Seattle while continuing to record and perform, finally settling on the name Blunt Mechanic for his new band. With world record, Barnett moves a little past his Spitting days, opting for a slightly fuller sound that feels less like a couple guys in their basement and more like three guys in a homemade studio—not slick, but confident. The songwriting is more aggressive and up-tempo, especially in tracks like “Aluminium & Light” or “Our First Brains,” and the album is a brisk 38 minutes. There’s some head-nodding hooks and clever lyrics, but as enjoyable as the album might be, it also feels like it’s not living up to its potential. The album begins with the throwaway, “Gear Check,” which isn’t a song but an actual gear check—and an unnecessary setting of the stage. Once past that initial misstep, the album moves comfortably along with lo-fi charm and sincerity. Even if it’s not a revelatory work, it’s the kind of album that can end up meaning a lot to someone on a personal level, which has always been Barnett’s specialty.