by Nitsuh Abebe
U.S. Maple's debut album is nothing short of stunning, combining angular guitar attacks, odd skronks, jazzy tones, and a generally deconstructive approach to music into a sound of unparalleled idiosyncrasy. The record's finest moments come when the slanted attack and fractured composition converge to simulate something approaching a conventional song (&Letter to ZZ Top,& with lyrics like &Give my bones to Billy Gibbons,& pretty much rules out any notion of normality). Between these off-kilter constructions and the group's even more off-kilter deconstructions, a truly amazing record is created, one that combines hard-edged, &whiskey, no chaser& rock with exceptionally intelligent slants and fractures.