Taken from the Beach Boys song Feel Flows, New York, USA-based juicer’s Retire The Fences is a collection all about moving away from home, letting go of the past and looking towards the future.

By Graeme Smith

Juicer are James Pratley Watson on guitar and vocals, Donovan Edelstein on drums, Carlo DiBiaggio on bass and Grey Crotty on guitar. The band formed last year and are already making a splash in their New York home. A slew of single releases have preceded the release of their LP.

It’s an album very much born from California native James’s lived experience and it’s brought to life through some bright yet melancholic indie rock arrangements. Opening track Trickin is the perfect case in point with a cantering rhythm, sunny melody and gentle, emotional vocals. It reminds me a little of Conor Oberst’s early work with Bright Eyes and Commander Venus as well as some of Broken Social Scene’s rawer moments.

Family Man expands things with a pacy and nostalgic number before Let Go goes lower with some fuzzy riffs and some timid dreaminess. Heirloom Crimes rounds off the album’s early listening with a bittersweet tale that brings with it a certain wistfulness.

Other highlights include the heart-wrenching ballad Strawberry Life, the explosive and upbeat Bomb, and cantering album closer Dream.

If you’re into your American indie rock then you’re going to find a lot to love about juicer’s album. It comes with plenty of authentic emotion and a dreamy sound in which it’s easy to get lost. I’m going to be keeping a close eye out for more music from them.

Retire The Fences features engineering from Hayden Ticehurst, drums from Preston Fulks, and guitar and production from Jeremy McLennan. The album is out now, available to buy as a digital download via juicer’s Bandcamp page. You can check it out below.