Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - 'Take Them On, On Your Own' (Virgin)
4/5
By: Matt Tomiak
Via a series of celebrity endorsements, high-profile support slots with the likes of Oasis, media-coverage galore and a much-lauded debut-LP, the band named after Marlon Brando's gang of no-goodniks in 'The Wild One' have risen to the top of the rock hierarchy in a couple of short years.
We're now all well-acquainted with the San Fran trio's permanent scowls, leather -jackets and unfeasibly - apparently, effortlessly - cool, scuzzy rock: thus the release of sophomore effort 'Take Them On, On Your Own' was an enticing prospect indeed.
A collection of moody, paranoid, claustrophobic songs, thankfully, it's just as good as the band's eponymous debut. And the lyrics are certainly more interesting this time around. They are by turns threatening ('I kill you all with a six barrel shotgun... Shut your eyes or they'll show you no mercy': 'Six Barrel Shotgun'), bitter ('You put the knife in our back and no-one even cares': 'Generation'), angst-ridden ('I spit my faith on the city pavement... you're gonna suffer': 'US Government'), and just plain scary ('I don't care if you can take it, I can't take it anymore, I'll die': the fantastically ominous 'Shade Of Blue').
That the type-font used on the sleeve bears an uncanny resemblance to homicidal loner Travis Bickle's handwriting in 'Taxi Driver' seems very apt. This colossal album is dark, really dark, but - hey: nobody ever said you had to be cheerful to make great, timeless rock n' roll.
Artists in this article: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
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