Album Review: Let's Wrestle - In the Court of the Wrestling Let's

Let's Wrestle's debut In the Court of the Wrestling Let's is an honest introduction to a band that relies on energy, humor and decent melody to make its music.

At its best this album sounds like the perfect soundtrack to a summer afternoon of imaginary WWE in the backyard. Songs like “We are the Men You'll Grow to Love Soon” and “Song for Old People” are carefree, driving and triumphant and conjure up images of some goofy chaps running about and creating mischief. It obvious this is the sound with which Let’s Wrestle is most comfortable.

The band mixes it up with some ukulele (“In Dreams”) and an extended heavy jam (“In the Court of the Wresting Let’s”) and the variety is welcome although neither is as enjoyable as their signature sound.

The “everyman” quality of the vocals is meant to add to the raucous energy and the humor, but I found myself thinking “That doesn’t sound good” or “Is that out-of-tune?” about as much as I was thinking “Wow! He’s really putting his heart into it” or “That’s funny.” Lead singer Wesley Patrick Gonzalez goes all out and it pays off sometimes, but other times it doesn’t (i.e. the bridge in “My Schedule”).

In the Court of the Wrestling Let’s doesn’t try to hide anything, good or bad, and in the end the good outweighs the bad.

In the Court of the Wrestling Let’s will be released on March 23 via Merge Records. The band will open for White Rabbits at Local 506 on April 7 and will also open for Quasi at the Cat's Cradle on April 26. Tickets for each show are $10 in advance and $12 the day of the show.

Let's Wrestle - "We Are the Men You'll Grow To Love Soon" (mp3)