Knoxville’s Royal Bangs record for Audio Eagle, the local label owned by the Black Keys’ Patrick Carney. Little surprise that the group makes a guitar-fueled racket on its debut, We Breed Champions. But the random noise blasts, kinda-poppy riffs, and free-for-all party jams have a whole lotta soul, considering they’re played by a bunch of hairy white guys who use drum loops and a laptop. Check out “New Scissors,” probably the most tuneful thing Audio Eagle has ever released. Or “Handcuff Killa,” where the percussion presets get a real workout. Think Animal Collective and Modest Mouse, spiked with some good ol’ boy swagger . . . and it still doesn’t come close.
This article appears in Dec 17-23, 2008.