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Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Baby 81 Review

by J Simpson

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Black Rebel Motorcycle Club(BRMC) are a three piece bluesy garage rock band with an early british pop flavor. After two successful offerings of straight forward guitar driven rock the boys of BRMC pulled back on the reins and in 2005 released an acoustic, southern gospel inspired album which was a very admirable piece of work and did well. Now that the band has shown its creative flexibility they're back to their up front, in your face rock sound with the release of their 4th album titled Baby 81.

Stripped down rock music without all the bells and whistles, just distortion laden grooves with thumping drums. The opening tracks of the album (Took Out a Loan, Berlin) pick up right where the first two albums left off with their signature nasty, churning guitar riffs and pleading growls all wrapped up in a somewhat fuzzy tone. It's a 13 track very moody album laced with the theme of personal accountability as highlighted by singer Peter Hayes's self persecuting lyrics. There are some very good tracks in this collection, but the album as a whole gets a little routine and lacks the spontaneity the previous albums seem to have.

They haven't lost any of their sexy aggressive feel or garage rock roots but unfortunately apart from a few standout songs the music lapses into the dreaded slightly predictable ranking. In all intents and purposes Baby 81 is a very praiseworthy effort, it's a powerful release but being familiar with their first 3 discs I was hoping for better. BRMC will be relentlessly touring in promotion of the album through May, June & July.


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Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Baby 81
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