… every indie band started using alternate guitar tunings, but Poem Rocket was one of the faithful adherents who disregarded any attempts to wed this approach to pop music, instead carving out gloomy, wind-lashed songs like “Eject” and “Small White Animal.”

—Erick Bradshaw, Bandcamp Daily

Lend-Lease Reviews

The ’90s and 2000s-vintage New York rock band Poem Rocket—self-described “art-noise-indie genre-defiers”—recently reunited for their first live show in decades, and now they’re about to share previously unreleased music. Next week the band will release Lend-Lease, a shelved EP from 1999.

—Chris Deville, Stereogum
... it’s bands like Poem Rocket that remind you of why you fell in love with music in the first place, and their latest release, the Lend-Lease EP, only reaffirms that notion.

—Simon Kirk, Sun-13
Other albums of note out this week: Poem Rocket's Lend-Lease EP.

—Tom Breihan, Stereogum
[Poem Rocket] ... left me completely slack jawed after a highly inspired set ... the NYC band ... deftly married arty post-punk, intelligent lyricism, with high energy psych rock in their initial run ...

—The Ash Gray Proclamation
Lend-Lease offers you four fantastic tracks that combine elements of shoegaze, post-rock and lo-fo and create exciting arrangements. The raw, washed out and direct guitar sound literally gives the listener the feeling of being there live at a gig and feeling the pure energy up close. A brilliant production!

—Berlin on Air
Although recorded 25 years ago, Lend-Lease feels quite exciting, as it introduces a new chapter for Poem Rocket, offering an intriguing sound which will satisfy long-time listeners, and those who currently discover the band.

—Destroy/Exist
With a bold mix of noise, art rock and psychedelic melodies, Poem Rocket returns with the intensity and creativity that earned them acclaim from publications such as Melody Maker, CMJ and Pitchfork.

—La Caverna
Despite being over two decades old, Lend-Lease feels fresh, poised to resonate with dedicated fans and newcomers alike.

—TunesAround
["Depth Charge"] ... evokes a sense of submerged tension, where distorted sounds and muffled explosions mirror a psyche drowning in isolation. The track's sense of urgency anchors the EP's exploration of fascism, ethics, and the tension between the past and the future.

—Sam Corrazza, Unxigned
Atmospheric reverb and guitar work that packs a particular vibe and punch, with a mood-setting quality and spirit that feels like a trip back in time to a different type of time in New York City.

—Will Oliver, We All Want Something to Shout For
Lend-Lease is a marvel of well-orchestrated indie rock made with a utilitarian toolkit–every surprising acoustic bit, every piano accent, every confident step taken forward by the electric guitars feels like the result of much deliberation and mapping.

—Rosy Overdrive
This EP isn’t just a rediscovered gem, it’s a call to action ... In an age where so much music feels disposable, Lend-Lease stands as a sheer example of true artistry and the power of perseverance.

—Djordje Miladinović, Thoughts Words Action
The only problem with Lend-Lease is that there isn’t more ....

—Sun-13’s Top 25 EPs of 2024
Despite its vintage, it sounds fresh and immediate—as though you’ve cracked open a time capsule full of fierce winged creatures furious to have been awakened from their deep hibernation. In just 26 minutes, Lend-Lease cements itself in your soul, scratching an itch you might not have realized you had.

—Monica Kendrick, Chicago Reader
Embellished with luminous guitar melodies, the soundscape offers a transcendent and transfixing experience that strikes you with awe and frisson alike. Poem Rocket artfully and skillfully fuse the cosmic outer chaos with the chasmic inner expanse in their soundscapes, capturing the essence of both in every note and every line ....

—Lost in the Manor
True story: we accidentally played this LP on 45 rpm ... The thing is, it sounded beautiful ... as soon as we span it at the proper 33 rpm, we found ourselves stunned. The fact that something too mind-falteringly beautiful if esoteric was kept under wraps for a quarter of a century seems criminal.

—Brett Callwood, Music Connection
Poem Rocket hit that weird spot where their music seems to come from an emotional place, and is clearly underground, yet it has absolutely nothing to do with any form of emo ... “Black Freighter Contraband” is closer to acoustic Led Zep than American Football or The Hated.

—Matt Korvette, Yellow Green Red

—Erick Bradshaw, Bandcamp Daily

... it’s bands like Poem Rocket that remind you of why you fell in love with music in the first place, and their latest release, the Lend-Lease EP, only reaffirms that notion.

Other albums of note out this week: Poem Rocket's Lend-Lease EP.

[Poem Rocket] ... left me completely slack jawed after a highly inspired set ... the NYC band ... deftly married arty post-punk, intelligent lyricism, with high energy psych rock in their initial run ...

Although recorded 25 years ago, Lend-Lease feels quite exciting, as it introduces a new chapter for Poem Rocket, offering an intriguing sound which will satisfy long-time listeners, and those who currently discover the band.

With a bold mix of noise, art rock and psychedelic melodies, Poem Rocket returns with the intensity and creativity that earned them acclaim from publications such as Melody Maker, CMJ and Pitchfork.

Despite being over two decades old, Lend-Lease feels fresh, poised to resonate with dedicated fans and newcomers alike.

["Depth Charge"] ... evokes a sense of submerged tension, where distorted sounds and muffled explosions mirror a psyche drowning in isolation. The track's sense of urgency anchors the EP's exploration of fascism, ethics, and the tension between the past and the future.

Atmospheric reverb and guitar work that packs a particular vibe and punch, with a mood-setting quality and spirit that feels like a trip back in time to a different type of time in New York City.

Lend-Lease is a marvel of well-orchestrated indie rock made with a utilitarian toolkit–every surprising acoustic bit, every piano accent, every confident step taken forward by the electric guitars feels like the result of much deliberation and mapping.

This EP isn’t just a rediscovered gem, it’s a call to action ... In an age where so much music feels disposable, Lend-Lease stands as a sheer example of true artistry and the power of perseverance.

The only problem with Lend-Lease is that there isn’t more ....

True story: we accidentally played this LP on 45 rpm ... The thing is, it sounded beautiful ... as soon as we span it at the proper 33 rpm, we found ourselves stunned. The fact that something too mind-falteringly beautiful if esoteric was kept under wraps for a quarter of a century seems criminal.

Poem Rocket hit that weird spot where their music seems to come from an emotional place, and is clearly underground, yet it has absolutely nothing to do with any form of emo ... “Black Freighter Contraband” is closer to acoustic Led Zep than American Football or The Hated.