Ume is pronounced "ooh may," as in, "Ooh, may I purchase one of the CDs from the band that just destroyed at LouFest?" Few expected the Austin, Texas, trio to upstage the likes of Deerhunter and TV on the Radio, but numbers don't lie. At Euclid Records' merch booth, Ume's disc sales trumped all. It's a testament to the band's visceral live presence and songwriting depth. Those wowed by the unlikely heaviness of petite frontwoman Lauren Larson's fuzzy six-string spazz-outs also bought in to her iridescent melodies. Ume's return is not just a headlining followup on a successful festival gig. It's an investors' meeting.
Recommended If You Like But Don't Really Listen To: Kim Gordon-fronted Sonic Youth songs.
