Neil Hagerty was the guitarist in Royal Trux, a band that eventually got the recognition they deserved and were always considered cool even if they didn't. In a way that only cool bands from New York can ever be cool (you know, uber cool nonchalant cool too cool to be cool so uncool you're cool).
Basically a guitar band that happens to come from New York. Not that I am complaining because the plain fact is that American bands do scuzzy "fuck you I'm too cool to do this properly" rock and roll better than everyone else and they sure as shit do it way better than the Brits. Poor comparisons aside, Mick Jagger was (is) a jumpin' jack ass and Jennifer Herrema (Royal Trux vocalist) was like, a true rock God(ess).
Anyway, enough about Royal Trux already. It was a long time ago and since then Neil has done plenty and I have heard none of it. To my ears this is not too far removed from Royal Trux and also Sonic Youth and even at times Thurston Moore's solo album 'Demolished Thoughts'.
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On the other hand there are some major differences. Hagerty describes the music by this band as being Norteno music with electric guitars and drums and this inspiration comes from spending nine years in New Mexico's southern desert.
This influence manifests itself in a 'waltz time' style of music. Most of the album has this vibe but the track I like best is 'Lookout' and which is where the previously mentioned 'Demolished Thoughts' album comes in. Meandering, acoustic mess-about-ery with electric noodlings over the top and vocals not unlike Dean Wareham (Galaxie 500 & Luna).
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