by Travis Drageset
On Know by Heart American Analog Set plugs along in their characteristic lo-fi manner, with hypnotic guitars, mellow basslines, and careful lyrics by Andrew Kenny. Its rolling melodic lines and subtle textures continue in the vein of their previous albums and in the direction taken by its predecessor, Golden Band. Know by Heart culminates with &Aaron and Maria,& a foray into crystalline, driving-tongue-in-cheek platitudes. And songs like &Punk as Fuck,& &The Postman,& and &Know by Heart,& where Mark Smith's skittering drumwork provides the spine for a kinetically downbeat sonic experience, epitomize American Analog Set's penchant for straightforward minimalist elegance.