Crystal Castles: Crystal Castles Vinyl 2LP

Sending this one out to all the ex-American Apparel models and layered hoodie/leather jacket bros in the back; this album cover says pretty much all you need to know about 2008. This hotly anticipated debut from the duo of Ethan Kath and Alice Glass was a hodgepodge of blog-tested favorites like their remix of HEALTH’s “Crimewave,” the perverse Italo of “Air War” and the alleged happy accident “Alice Practice,” alongside a gang of new joints that have since become certified skinny jeans classics: post-electroclash singalong “Courtship Dating,” the BOC-on-PCP stylings of “Magic Spells” and the unsettling intro track “Untrust Us.” But in retrospect, it’s the album’s lesser-played fourth side that has aged the finest: “Through The Hosiery,” “Reckless,” “Black Panther,” and the tender slowcore of “Tell Me What To Swallow.” TBH, I traded my original copy of this record, but I might fuck around and buy it again. 16 tracks altogether on double vinyl released by Last Gang; this hasn’t been available in a minute so get it while you can. Recommended.

• black double vinyl pressing
• original release year: 2008
• music label: Last Gang Records 2023

reviewed by military 2step 09/2018