Yell Boss

Though New Brunswick, N.J., has never been singled out as a fertile college town—in the way that Chapel Hill, N.C., and Athens, Ga., have become known—the little city has had its share of important groups along the years. In 2014, Black Wine are as glaringly important as any local band since the original Blisters released their “Fast Food” 7” in the mid-'80s. Yell Boss, the trio’s fourth studio album, features a wall of sound from Jeff Schroeck’s guitar that’s as impressively melodic as that of Bob Mould. Drummer Miranda Taylor takes a notable turn at the mic for the drum-less “Familiar,” while the sound is largely kept dense and moving forward thanks to Taylor’s unflagging drums and J Nixon’s solid, unassuming bass. Calling themselves "no-core" brilliantly defines their midtempo attack. Tracks such as “Komrades,” “Breaking Down," and “Magnet Time” follow an indestructible pattern, while the five-minute “Rime” breaks into angrier riffs and vocals for a definite anthem. A version of The Guess Who’s “No Time” is a worthy “punk” cover in the tradition of punk covers.