Ignore the Ignorant

Audio Mixer: Nick Launay.
Recording information: Seedy Underbelly Studio, Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, CA.
The Cribs stretch their lineup and music on Ignore the Ignorant, adding Johnny Marr as their fourth member and adopting a more polished sound. This isn't a coincidence -- Marr's stint with Modest Mouse also saw that group tighten its playing and production on We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. His influence, along with producer Nick Launay's, is felt immediately on the dark, driving opening tracks "We Were Aborted" and "Cheat on Me"; later, "Ignore the Ignorant"'s melancholy bounce bears more than a passing resemblance to the Smiths' classic "Panic." Even brash moments such as "Victims of Mass Production," "Hari Kari," and "Emasculate Me" have notably more sophisticated songwriting than any of the Cribs' previous work, but the band spends most of Ignore the Ignorant testing its boundaries. The big, unabashed pop instincts that have lurked close to the surface since The Cribs are the focus of these songs, particularly on the swooning guitars and harmonies of "Save Your Secrets" and "Nothing"'s smooth chug. Ignore the Ignorant is full of pretty moments that take a while to savor fully, especially compared to the fist-like immediacy of the Cribs' earlier work. However, they also push their sound in more challenging directions, like the slow-motion finale "Stick to Yr Guns" and the epic "City of Bugs," a rangy six-minute workout that uses the band's dual-guitar lineup to its fullest and recalls "Be Safe," Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever's standout collaboration with Sonic Youth's Lee Ranaldo. While Ignore the Ignorant isn't perfect -- Gary and Ryan Jarman's guileless vocals don't always jell with their slick surroundings -- it is unquestionably some of the Cribs' most accomplished and diverse music. Fortunately, the Jarmans didn't have to sacrifice too much of their punky energy to gain the versatility and nuance they have here. ~ Heather Phares