How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Good
Value for Money
Good
Advantages:
Some decent tracks, well written and decent vocals
Disadvantages:
A tad long in places, which detracts a little from certain tracks
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
While last year seen The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club release their third album it also reminded me that I hadn't listened to the debut effort B.R.M.C. for quite a while. So having dusted it down and put it into the CD player it quickly reminded me just how good their debut was. It was released in late 2001 off the back of a couple of singles and very quickly the boys from San Francisco started to really make a name for themselves. It didn't take them long to break the UK and were pretty much an instant hit. The origin of the bands name comes from Marlon Brando's motorcycle gang in the film The Wild One.
The album was part of an American rock invasion that started earlier in the year with the Strokes and saw a number of bands arrive on our shores at the same time. Only a few had the tracks to back up the hype that followed and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club turned out to be one of them. While a number of those bands seem to have vanished into obscurity this trio have managed to ride the wave and as a result have increased in popularity with each passing album.
I think the main reason for The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club staying power is the fact they didn't sound identical to all the other bands at the time. They seemed to have quite a refreshing blend of influences and that is why they were set apart from the mass influx. It's clear that the band are fans of 70's & 80's rock and blend it perfectly with a touch of Phsychadelia from the late 60's and top it off nicely with the mid 90's Indie rock sound. This first album seemed to have the media comparing them to Jesus and Mary Chain, but as it turned out it was just a starting point for the larger picture and for the most part it's an excellent starting point.
Despite the comparisons and certain elements of the press calling them a retread of old bands there is a distinctive sound to this album. It's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination but it is a decent starting point. The mixture of long winding bass lines and distorted guitars blend in perfectly with the raspy vocals. The guitars and drum combination provide a decent musical edge to the tracks that bring back memories of early Oasis and the likes of Joy Division. For these reason's it's clear that they have taken influences from a number of different sources rather than just re-treading one bands already worn path. They are clearly trying to create a new way for themselves and the follow up albums certainly show the results of this.
The writing combination between the two front men seems to work well and their vocals really play off each other well. In Peter Hayes and Robert Turner the band have two very talented front men. As a result of this combination it means they can alter the sound of the tracks and one or other of them seems to have the ability and vocal range to pick up the lead in the song. The combination of the two vocal styles really make The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club stand out and again this obviously played a part in their sustainability where others failed.
As all debut albums it'll probably be recognisable by the singles and for the most part they are definitely the stronger tracks on the album. My favourite tracks from this album are certainly a couple of those singles. "Whatever Happened To My Rock And Roll" stood out from the first time I heard it, with a quick paced intro and a very catchy rhythm as the vocals come in. It's also a very well written track and shows exactly what The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. The other track that really stands out for me is "Spread Your Love", which combines distorted guitars and edgy vocals and certainly shows this debut album at its best.
There are a few downsides to the album though and there is certainly room for improvement. There are a couple of tracks that seem to go on just that little bit too long. The average track length must be just over 5 minutes long and over 11 tracks that can make a few of them drag on a little longer than they otherwise should. For instance in "Rifles" they have a pretty decent song, but at 7 minutes long it seems like it's been dragged out just that little bit too far. I didn't particularly find any weak tracks on this album just a few that went on a little over board in length.
Overall this is a reasonable debut. It provided a platform for The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club to build from and they have certainly done that. I'd have no hesitation in recommending this album despite a few flaws as it has some really good songs on it. There are a number of influences mixed into this album and I'd certainly suggest fans of early Oasis, Velvet Underground and Jesus & Mary Chain give it a try. As debut albums go it can't be considered a stand out album; however the band returned to record another album, which is more than can be said for a number of other bands that appeared in 2001. This is certainly one for the Indie/Rock fans amongst us.
Amazon: £4.97 Amazon Marketplace: £2.81
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Good
Cover / Inlay Design and Content
Good
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