"The Long Winters make the shiny pop of yore -- totally uncluttered by pretense, "arty crap," or baloney. Their new record on Barsuk is chock-full of just great, straight-up rock music that everyone can enjoy. It's intelligently written, full of melodies, catchy harmonies, and the right dose of chutzpah to keep it from getting samey. Live, the band is totally professional, never missing notes, and entertaining enough to make one dance in a hopping motion, if one so desired."  (Portland Mercury)

"While it is a great headphones record, The Worst You Can Do Is Harm is also a fantastic rock band album. There's a balancing act going on that threatens to teeter over the edge but never does. All the wacky production tweaks could have easily strangled the rock, but instead they serve to pretty it up. And the songs are hookier than shit."  (New York Press)

""Give me a moment, I've been away" is an apt beginning for the Long Winters' debut in that LW nucleus and erstwhile Western State Hurricanes frontman John Roderick, has, whether in body (an extended, post-WSH walkabout from Amsterdam to Istanbul) or soul (heavy drinking, apparent assholier-than-thou tendencies). Accordingly, The Worst You Can Do Is Harm is a lo-fi diary/act of contrition; dreary and joyous, sometimes acerbic, radiating repentance ("Give Me A Moment," "Mimi"), requital ("Unsalted Butter", "Government Loans"), relief (kooky, untitled Track 10) and renewal. Sonically, the record is fleshed out in various musical flora (the trad triumvirate of guitar-bass-drums, plus piano, glockenspiel, trap kit, optigan, metal plates and the barking of dogs) and fauna (Death Cab For Cutie's Chris Walla - who also produced - Ken Stringfellow, Harvey Danger's Sean Nelson, Alien Crime Syndicate's Mike Squires, dogs) in such a manner, that should Roderick's lyrics and vocals be omitted, his sentiments would still be conveyed. Give Roderick his moment. In fact, give him several."  (CMJ)

More press on THE WORST YOU CAN DO IS HARM   •   Back to top