The Bravery
I’ve been listening to this album for about two weeks now, and I haven’t been able to write a word about it for a few reasons. Although I am familiar with The Bravery I’ve never listened extensively to more than the opener of their self-titled debut, the song “An Honest Mistake.” In reviewing Stir the Blood I attempted to rectify this by getting my hands on copies of their debut and sophomore releases, but to no avail. As well as my general lack of knowledge of the band, Stir the Blood plays like one 35 minute electro-rock track, and I often found myself at the beginning of a Bright Eyes album (the next in my iTunes library) and unsure how I’d gotten there. So this review is steeped in my ignorance of previous releases and based upon only what they’ve done in 2009. Fresh angle or lazy reviewer?
So I found myself staring at my iTunes library wondering what to do. From my limited knowledge of the band I am expecting heavily synthesised rock tracks laden with screaming guitars and somewhat distorted vocals… needless to say this album cover catches me off guard. Through the first play of opening track “Adored,” everything returns to within my realm of understanding. A crackling bass line reminiscent of The Prodigy launches into a romanticized ballad of togetherness through the hardest of times. Sound lame? It’s not. “Every single day / I can feel it chip-chip-chipping away / if only we could run-run from this swine / oh baby we are wasted in this time,” bridges the verse to the chorus of a truly great album opener.
From here, however, the album meanders through a very formulaic set of tracks. “Song for Jacob,” the first single “Slow Poison,” and all the tracks following through until “The Spectator” could simply be extra verses in the life of the tragic romance of the opening track. Though it is here, at track seven, that there is a discovery of ingenuity, or perhaps the influence of some outspoken Bravery member. Although the familiar electronic drum kit kicks the listener statically along, an acoustic guitar and rhythmic “ooh / oooh / ooh” overlays and attracts attention that may have wandered away since “Slow Poison” or “Hatefuck.” It seems to speak of watching the world of one man, as well as the existence of mankind, as it crumbles around his and our feet. The song is easily the highlight of the album, as it obviously speaks of something close to the band with true emotion and honesty. “And the bells go / chime chime chime / ticking ticking time / I am a spectator / I am in this world but not of it / I am a spectator,” regards a disposition of one objectively watching this world as its days count down.
Stir the Blood is The Bravery stretching the limited combinations of their keys, synths, and drum machines to a breaking point. The closing tracks of the album return to fast paced distortion and ear piercing electronics, slowing for the finale “Sugarpill” which is more a, “Shit how do we finish this album?” than actual finale. There are some great dance-rock tracks on the album, and there are songs that merge balladry and synthesizers, but none of this flows in what could be regarded as a culmination of the intervening years since their last works. It is more like 11 different tracks for 11 different compilation albums. Although the New York boys might have bent several genres when they first appeared on the scene in all their shiny new vigour, several years down the road there needs to be some digression from this method and maybe ditching the synths and distorted vocals on a few tracks could do just that.
Artist: The Bravery
Album: Stir The Blood
Genre: Alternative/Indie Rock
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/thebravery
-Track Listing-
1. Adored – 3:40
2. Song For Jacob – 3:23
3. Slow Poison – 3:32
4. Hatefuck – 2:56
5. I Am Your Skin – 3:01
6. She’s So Bendable – 2:22
7. The Spectator – 3:49
8. I Have Seen The Future – 3:14
9. Red Hands And White Knuckles – 3:25
10. Jack-O’-Lantern Man – 2:50
11. Sugarpill = 3:26