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Charm Assault
Rock · 2017

Charm Assault

Ride

A high-velocity return to form, blending motorik rhythms with jagged, politically-charged guitar pop and the band's signature shimmering vocal harmonies.

February 21, 2017 · Wichita

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Charm Assault represents a striking pivot for Ride, shedding the amorphous clouds of their early 90s output for something leaner and more muscular. It sounds like a band that has spent twenty years observing the world and has finally decided to speak up. The production by Erol Alkan brings a dance-adjacent tightness to the rhythm section, providing a rigid scaffolding for the guitars to weave their intricate, interlocking patterns. It is a record of friction and momentum, where the sweetness of the vocals acts as a counterweight to the biting social critique in the lyrics.

Moments Worth Listening For
the sudden transition from the isolated motorik drum intro into the first jagged guitar riff
the bridge section where the guitars swirl into a brief, controlled feedback loop before the final chorus
the specific clarity of the dual vocal harmonies during the 'charm assault' refrain
Where This Album DepartsEach spoke is a trait. The orange shape shows where this album pulls away from — or holds to — the rest of the artist’s catalogue. Tap for more.

How does Charm Assault sound next to the rest of Ride's catalogue?

Festival+3.7σ

Festival saturates this record far more than the artist's norm.

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