UV Race - Homo (Album Review)

Review by Mor Fleisher-Leach

The UV Race is a lot like Melbourne’s version of Black Randy and the Metro Squad—endearing and catchy, doesn't fit in anywhere specifically, and sometimes has a “horn section”. The lyrics are needy and musicianship is minimal. But what makes the UV Race stand out is a keen sense of quirky, dry humor—something that is sadly missing from most contemporary American bands. 

Homo is the UV Race’s second full-length record, released by Los Angeles’ In the Red Records. The album sees the group exploring its proto-punk roots. Its attitude is a mix between Lou Reed’s melancholy and Jonathan Richman’s apathy (before the solo soul-man days). The tracks are symphonies of one note, one finger, one chord, one-two-three-four-strum action. They’re good—lots of upbeat numbers about feeling down.

UV Race is one of those “I Don’t Give a Fuck” bands—my favorite kind. They play the kind of music you could play. They’re accessible and honest.  Music scholars probably hate this stuff. They say it like it is, play it like it is.