Ovlov TRU LP (Blue & White Galaxy Vinyl)

Compared to its 2013 predecessor, Am, TRU is less late-'80s Dino Jr., more early-'90s Sebadoh: While Ovlov are still as wonderfully wooly ever, they're unleashing the noise in more purposeful, sculpted spurts and displaying a greater willingness to let their melodies sparkle through the clouds of distortion. Tuneful, feedback-slathered surges like "Half Way Fine" and "Spright" feel as comfortable as a beaten-up pair of Chuck Taylors, introducing dramatic dynamic shifts and savvy melodic change-ups to keep you on your toes. You may not always be able to make out Hartlett's lyrics amid the cyclonic fuzz, but the despondence and disillusionment in his voice always cut through loud and clear. And when he can't quite find the right words, he and fellow guitarist Morgan Luzzi unleash that simmering angst through nonverbal means, like the roiling guitar tsunami that brings the hazy-headed "Baby Alligator" to a cataclysmic close.

-Stuart Berman, Pitchfork

Ovlov inject so much fiery energy and intensity into the music, so much heart into the singing, and care into the way the record sounds that there is no doubt they are forging their own path cleared by the mighty power, both sonic and emotional, they unleash here. Ovlov started strong with Am; with TRU they have made good on all that promise and released the kind of breathtakingly great record most bands can only dream about making.