The Bleedin Bleedins
A review of their album 'Life Without Computers'
Review
Snapshot:
This is one of those albums that not many will know about but will have you
hooked on first listen. It has everything you would expect from an aspiring
indie rock band - energetic bouts of instrumentation, a decent catalogue of
songs and something that little bit different that makes them stand out.
The Cluas Verdict: 8 out of 10.
Full Review:
The Bleedin Bleedins - Barry Kelly (Guitar, Keys), Mike Coen
(Vocals) and Dave Franz (Drums) - are a Boston based Irish-American band (Coen and Franz are both American, Kelly is
Irish). Their songs have a familiar indie rock flavour but
add enough extra spice to keep you intrigued throughout. If you do manage to see
past the Interpol and
Franz Ferdinand comparisons, there is
a cracker of an album here to discover.
Skipping along at a steady pace, the most notable thing about this album is that
it flows so well. Never do you feel that one song should be positioned
elsewhere. From the crooning opener 'Tonight' right through to the fast paced
closing track 'Running Again', there is a consistency that sucks you in and
spins you around. Sure, there are some songs that stand out more than others
(Darkest Day, Override and The Lights Are Out), but for the most part it is an
album that deserves to be listened to from beginning to end.
At the core of the songs is a stamp of identity that sets everything in motion
for them. From the lazy yet sincere melodies to the snaring indie rock inserts,
The Bleedin Bleedins conduct the proceedings with an atmospheric grip on
everything. What sets them apart from the rest of the pack is a backbone of
melodies and harmonies that retain your attention throughout. This gives the
songs substance and layers that most bands simply ignore. Throw comparisons at
them (I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness, Spoon) and label them 'just another
indie rock band' if you will, but you can't deny them that shred of identity
that makes them sound just a little bit different.
Blending in elements of lyrical candour with a raucous tempo, a song like 'One
More Minute' perfectly sums up the sound of this band. The track begins with
jarring guitars and a thumping drum beat before Cohen starts in with 'I've
gone this far and almost made it / Without you / It's been so long it hurts to
say it / Around you'. This is then followed by an off kilter time signature
that revolves around twin vocals and that incessant drumbeat. By its end you
feel slightly disappointed that it's over, so you just go back and play it
again.
The nine songs on 'Life Without Computers' clock in at a digestible
thirty-four minute mark, thus not outstaying its welcome or selling the listener
short. It is an enjoyable album that you will find being quickly elevated up
your MP3 player playlists or spending a lot of time in your CD player.
Gareth Maher
To buy a
new or (very reasonably priced) 2nd hand copy of this album on Amazon just click
here.
