Male Bonding

When London’s Male Bonding fleshed out its sound, it avoided the ’77-flavored scrappy guitars and nihilistic streak most listeners associate with British punk. It also sidestepped most Americanized turns on the sound, settling comfortably into a blend of lo-fi, chiming guitars, and a nearly manic energy on its debut, Nothing Hurts. Below the clanging guitar and galloping rhythm, however, the act hides a pop sensibility and an ear for arrangements that so many of its three-chord American brethren can’t seem to locate. A follow-up, Endless Now, expanded the band’s sound a bit to include new textures and slightly more subtle arrangements, although Male Bonding’s modus operandi remains intact, as the act crams a new—dare we say mature?—wrinkle into punk to help England reclaim some of its claim on the style.

Updated 08/17/2011