The Bravery - The Bravery
|
Our Price: $13.98 Availability: Usually ships in 1 to 2 days Buy Used: from $1.88 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for The Bravery
Free Music Review: At least they're honest. (3.5 stars)
Hit: 3 Stars
Alot of this album does have that haunting feel of "sameness" that seems to be a bad thing these days. Certainly, the fundamental impetus of the songs doesn't change. You got your beats, your synth, some riffs, and some truly understated lyrics.
These things do not change from song to song. The way they are delivered doesn't vary very much either. The opening track, "Honest Mistake," is great, and really does set the tone for the album. The tone, in case you're wondering, is "shake what your mama gave ya." The beats are *infectious* and are the strength of this album, no question. In terms of exploring ways to make you want to hit the dance floor, this album scores full marks. Like alot of dance music, however, this album suffers when listened to in a non-dance environment. The songs are still good. You'll tap your foot, nod your head, maybe annoy people you live with by clicking a pen in time to the beats - but when you actually *listen* to the music, you start to realize what's missing.
What's missing: Variety of sound, lyrics that make sense (they definitely mailed this portion in), musicianship, subtlety, culminations.
One at a time, I will address these concerns.
1) Variety of sound
They nail the electronic beat music very well, and the keyboards are there throughout. However, no territory is explored. They have a solid base built here but don't build towards anything worthy of being called a peak. In a perhaps unfair comparison, consider The Bends by Radiohead. I would say that Honest Mistake and Planet Telex are about the same level of "awesomeness," but Radiohead takes that and builds, and builds, and builds on it, reaching a mid-album climax and finishing very strongly. The Bravery's "Honest Mistake" starts at the same level but the level isn't taken any further than that. I rate Honest Mistake a 8/10 for a song, and do the same for Telex.
2) Lyrics that make sense.
Self explanatory. Some artists get away with ridiculous lyrics (The Tragically Hip, The Music) due to their use of vocals as an instrument that builds well upon the instruments. Such is not the case here. It's not that big a deal, but don't expect to be belting out lyrics from this album a la "One" style.
3) Musicianship.
There are no epic guitar riffs. There are no stunning drum sections. The keyboarding is as it has always been in 80 and 80-spin music: backup. Whether this is from lack of ability or design we will have to wait and see for another album or to see the band live (I haven't). It's wrong to expect Hendrix in the guitar department, but doesn't it say something when they don't even try?
4) Subtlety
No ogres here. No layers. No rewards for repeat listening. Can make listening to this album more than twice a week a bit of a chore. You were warned about this if you buy this and try to listen to this CD 5 times in one day.
5) Culmintations
No crescendos. No softer sections. Just a steady power the whole time. Consistent, and not bad, but music needs ups and downs.
In the end, I had to rate this album just shy of 3.5 stars. Say 3.4-ish. Still much better than average music being put out today, but you can't help but feel that this has all been done before. It has, but they didn't have to be so obvious about it.
But maybe that's why it opens with "Honest Mistake."
3 < The Bravery, The Bravery < 3.5
Recommendations above this album include Welcome to the North (For those who love their musicianship), Kasabian (for those who love their electronic), and The Killers (for those who love their pop).
Free Music Review: Yuck
Hit: 1 Stars
Trying to look like the clash trying to sound like joy division and the smiths. nothing new about this band, you want some fresh, new london punk sounds listen to the libertines.Free Music Review: Finally some good music!!
Hit: 5 Stars
I bought this cd on a whim and was very suprised. I only knew one song on it called Honest Mistake and I have not taken it out of my cd player. This band is a combination of Social Distortion and New Order. Well worth the buy.Free Music Review: Return of the 80's
Hit: 4 Stars
Not only is this album great but they left off their best song. On the import there is as song titled "Hot Pursuit". The best song I have heard in years. Great intro, very catchy, and it makes you want to turn up the volume until your ears bleed. Check this song out even if you don't like the rest of the regular album.Free Music Review: uh....
Hit: 2 Stars
don't really understand the hype on this one. i listened to this cd the other day and while the music is (sometimes) catchy at best, the vocals are dreadful and the lyrics even worse. 'an honest mistake' has nice groove, but lyrically it's just silly. 'don't look at me that waaa-aaaay...' is that the best you could do? horrible.
this is another one of those assembly linebands trying to cash in on the latest craze -- just how suddenly everyone sounded like nirvana in 1993-1993, just how suddenly everyone sounded like hootie and blowfish 1995-1997, just how everyone sounded like britney 1999-2000. just how most everyone's trying to sound like franz ferdinand these days. everyone just stop trying to sound like everyone else and cultivate your own sound.
i don't know quite what to make of the 'new wave' revival -- this hardly counts as any sort of new wave revival. it's just the bravery riding on the killers' coattails, and let's face it, the killers aren't all that great to begin with.
two stars 'cos at least some of the tracks are hummable.