Dead Confederate

Although Dead Confederate was pegged at first as a snotty, Southern twist on grunge, the Athens band grew up fast between 2008’s Wrecking Ball and 2010’s Sugar. Grimy guitars and whirring organ give the band’s live show a foundation that’s both dense and dynamic, and that aids the woozy swagger of “In The Dark” as well as more violent moments like “Quiet Kid.” Dinosaur Jr.’s J. Mascis—no stranger to distorted twang—guests on Sugar’s catchiest track, “Giving It All Away,” but the surest sign of the band’s increasing maturity is that Dead Confederate pulls off the slower, sadder “Run From The Gun” as the album’s second track instead of making it a surprise break in the rocking near album’s end.

Updated 04/24/2012