Saturday ACL Fest 2018 Record Reviews
The Breeders
All Nerve (4AD)
Reviewed by Rachel Rascoe, Fri., Oct. 5, 2018
All Nerve dodges every pitfall. Reuniting lead sisters Kim and Kelley Deal with bassist Josephine Wiggs and drummer Jim MacPherson, the Breeders' fifth LP matches the lineup for iconic 1993 hit Last Splash. Lovely "Spacewoman" and "Dawn: Making an Effort" pin Kim's soft, candied tone against the weight of atmospheric scuzz, and it never gives. While the title track's big-hearted buildup channels the crew's establishing alt-pop buoyancy, new ideas stagger the 11 tracks. Monolithic "MetaGoth" and smoky ballad "Walking With a Killer" work through internal frustrations, eloquently tracking out a new era for the Breeders. (3:30pm, HomeAway stage)