Lav's Music Corner

Review by Lav: Duster is a California slowcore band whose original run of material in the late 90s and early 2000s went under-appreciated in its time. The band's catalog, in particular their 1998 masterpiece debut as Duster Stratosphere  has developed quite a reputation online for its nostalgic haze and swaying subtlety. In the wake of their surprising online success, the band reunited releasing a self-titled album in 2019 that I liked but wasn't head over heels for. Where the band really hit me was on their darker surprise-released 2022 album Together . Much like that record, In Dreams  arrives as a surprise drop, but by comparison, its attempts to channel what makes Duster unique as a band are more hit or miss.  That isn't to say it never works though. Opener Quiet Eyes  begins about how you'd think wading directly into somber slowcore with reverb-soaked nostalgic guitars and punchy timely drums. It pulls a punch that many songs on the record do of having a very lo...

Duster are a California band who experimented in slowcore and space rock during a run of material in the late 90's. In particular their 1998 album Stratosphere  made them an indie darling in critical circles with a cult following. After years of inactivity in the 2000's and 2010's they reformed and released a self-titled 3rd album in 2019. Together  is their 4th album and was released as a surprise with no singles or promotion. Review By Lav: While I am no doubt a critic, and there is plenty of reason to lump praise onto Duster's Stratosphere , what makes it so truly transcendent is a much more personal and emotional affair. The bands lucid, nostalgic and spacey style of largely instrumental rock is truly unique and seemingly universal in the way it evokes sad distance and isolation. While I enjoy the bands entire discography that moment in particular has always felt like an era defining masterpiece. For that reason I'll always be in tune with Duster whenever they r...