Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - 'BRMC' (Virgin)
4/5
By: Toby L
A mini, mind-swirling instrumental-trip is what soothes you into this, the first LP-release from San Francisco's Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (now residents of LA). It sounds a bizarre beginning, but for a band such as this one, that's why it feels so correct.
Ever since they've arrived on to the music-scene both sides of the Atlantic, understandably, the media has latched on to an act that they feel has enough energy and attitude to be deemed a 'cool' commodity. However, where BRMC succeeded, and avoided too much coverage too soon, is by the way that they wrote, recorded and produced this 11-track record all by themselves way before there was a chance for the It-girls in the world of fashion to commend their blend of modern-age rock, which also pays homage to late-80's UK indie. And - for this - plus their refusal to 'sell out' in the conventional term of the concept - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club could be the best American guitar-band for years. Or at least since The Strokes.
'Love Burns', second European single-release and album-opener, shapes things into the way all great records should start with: a punchy, immediate and memorable pop song with enough buzzing excitement and snarling vocals to make any rational human-being sit down and catch their breath. What follows, though, is especially exquisite: the industrial groove of 'Red Eyes And Tears', whose Elastica-esque production, atmospheric recording and air guitar-worthy riffs seem to leap out from your stereo and suck you in, whilst you're merely willing to go along with what's thrown at you. However, once this fades out, their anthem, 'Whatever Happened To My Rock 'N' Roll', grabs and firmly grips your attention. The singing is essentially a distorted Supergrass' Gaz Coombes, believe it or not, whilst the backing music is a tempting and rich coalition of frantic bass-lines, crashing drums and feedback-drenched six-strings. This is why such a set of tracks could be the best trio of songs to start an album with that you'll ever hear...
How does the rest match up, though? Can it sustain the relevance and gritty, hypnotic song-writing that's already infected your brain? Definitely; the stadium-rock boldness of 'Awake', sixties-reminiscent rhythm of 'White Palms' and closing 'Salvation', whose grand and epic composure definitely hints at Blur's 'Tender' or early-Verve, ensures that the listening-experience of this album is far from mediocre, and rather more close to innovative, fresh and classic.
With such a stunning introduction as this, let's beg the fuel doesn't run out of the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's engines.
Artists in this article: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
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