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Rating: 1) That this album stands apart from the previous one and instead recalls the group's beginnings has already been said; 2) that the BRMC still sound like Jesus & Mary Chain but now also wink at U2 (see, see...), Oasis (ouch!), Arctic Monkeys (really!), also; 3) that it sounds more European than American, much repeated. What else is there to say then? That maybe one might not agree with what's been written so far, for instance.
1) Baby 81 arrives in 2007, and you can tell. Peter Hayes during the making of "Howl" (A.D. 2005) practiced sounding sexy (even when singing about God), almost moaning, and now he does it like no one else. Aside from incitements and excitations, there is a breath of spirituality from the first to the last track of this Baby 81 and those who haven't noticed it should listen better.
2) BRMC sound like BRMC and wink at themselves (at the risk of going blind). Grunge, brit-pop, blues, roots. One might hear Supergrass, another Pearl Jam, one Damon Albarn, one Kurt Cobain, another their grandma. In reality, it's just a mere physiological fact: one exhales largely what they inhale, maybe a bit dirtier or simply metabolized. BRMC, like anyone else, are children of their own time and passions, but one can also choose not to participate in this "who do they remind you of?" race.
3) BRMC are also children of their own spaces and it's no coincidence that 2/3 of the band, Hayes and Turner, come from San Francisco while 1/3 (Iago, the guy on drums) is from the UK. He had left us, but now he's back. And thank goodness. His absence on "Howl" (due, it seems, to the expiry of his residence permit in Yankee land) was noticeable indeed. But now that he's back to flailing the drumsticks, the air once again moves to the rhythm of rebellion on a Harley Davidson.
And the writer, while writing this, at 5 in the morning on a Sunday, can't help but despair at how the (albeit splendid) "Ain't No Easy Way Out" would have been with the Brit in his place, darn it. And, again the writer, realizing that this DeReview up to now hasn't DeScribed much about the album.
So, in two words, instructions for use: listen to "Took Out A Loan" knowing that unfortunately, after just over 3 minutes, it will end (a rare example of how a single repeated riff, rather than tiring, makes one insatiable). Listen to "Berlin" paying little attention to the lyrics (Suicide's easy, what happened to the revolution), and much to Peter's voice (which does nothing but moan uhm, uhm, uhm...), jumping like crazy and (if female, ready to bite lips). Listen to "666 Conducer" (languid, entrancing, almost perfect) with eyes closed, smoking and, if you don't smoke, start smoking. Listen to "Weapon Of Choice" while driving and singing-shouting it. Listen to (for those who have it) the last track "The Likes of you" (bonus track for the UK version) dancing, even alone, actually better alone. Listen to all the other tracks. All. Isn't it wonderful to not have to skip even one?
It's only rock'n'roll, but it's all we want.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Took Out a Loan (04:16)
I took out a loan on my empty heart, babe
I took out a loan for my patient soul
And I feel alive as long as I don't need you
And I feel alive as long as I keep hold
I took out a loan on my empty heart, babe
I took out a loan for my patient soul
And I feel alive as long as I don't need you
And I feel alive as long as I keep hold
Of what I think I thought I heard you loved me
I think you thought you heard I loved
Have I been mistaken
Have I been mistaken
I feel confused about the way it's done
I won't be denied
I'm coming in this time, babe
I've fallen in love with your creatures soul
And I've been a witness to your sickest obsession
And I feel alive as long as I keep hold
Of what I think I thought I heard you loved me
I think you thought you heard I loved
Have I been mistaken have I been mistaken
I feel confused about the way it's done
02 Berlin (03:11)
have a little love, as were fighting with each other
aint no use in crying like the others
were fools in need, fools to believe,
there are fools in need, to foolish to believe
im gonna, uh somebody, uh somebody
here but dont you please, ive got time and time to bleed
it aint no use in trying to deceive ive been fooled by the lover, fooled by the sinner, fooled myself into thinking i was living
im fighting just to breathe as i get back off my knees
help me somebody
help me somebody
im fighting just to breathe as i get back off my knees
im gonna, uh somebody, uh somebody, uh somebody, uh somebody
she said
suicides easy, what happened to the revolution
suicides easy, what happened to the revolution
suicides easy, what happened to the revolution
suicides easy, what happened to the revolution
heavy little lovers, as were fighting with each other
aint no use in suffering like the others
were fools in need, fools to believe,
there are fools in need, to foolish to believe
im fighting just to breathe as i get back off my knees
help me somebody
help me somebody
im fighting just to breathe as i get back off my knees
im gonna, um somebody, um somebody, um somebody, um somebody, um somebodies gonna, somebody, hurt somebody,
um somebodies gonna, somebody
she said
suicides easy, what happened to the revolution
suicides easy, what happened to the revolution
suicides easy, what happened to the revolution
suicides easy, what happened to the revolution
03 Weapon of Choice (02:50)
I gotta speak and you want to listen up
There is no time to feast your eyes
You want it all but the world won't give it up
Up to the edge your star will rise
What is your weapon of choice,
What's your weapon of choice
There is no weapon to free us all
What is your weapon of choice,
What's your weapon of choice
There is no weapon to free us all
I won't waste it, I won't waste it, I won't waste my love on a nation
I won't waste it, I won't waste it, I won't waste my love on a nation
Everyone's got their own split factions
Every pawn will pay it's price
I've been digging out in all directions
I'll see you through to the after life
What is your weapon of choice,
What's your weapon of choice
There is no weapon to free us all
What is your weapon of choice,
What's your weapon of choice
There is no weapon to free us all
I won't waste it, I won't waste it, I won't waste my love on a nation
I won't waste it, I won't waste it, I won't waste my love on a nation
It's to hard too stand aside
It's enough to stop your heart
I won't waste it, I won't waste it, I won't waste my love on a nation
I won't waste it, I won't waste it, I won't waste my love on a nation
I won't waste it, I won't waste it, I won't waste my love on a nation
I won't waste it, I won't waste it, I won't waste my love on a nation.
07 666 Conducer (04:01)
No one knows her name but they see her youth and use her
She's feeling free and everything she sees is truth
She's seventeen she's got everything she needs to lose
Yeah yeah yeah oh no
She's got everyone to help her on her way
She's got everyone to help her on her way
She's got everyone to help her on her way, down
He seems to know right where it hurts your pain, in vain
He gives himself to you he's in your way
And everything he does just seems a phase, insane
Yeah yeah yeah oh no
He's got everyone to help him on his way
He's got everyone to help him on his way
He's got everyone to help him on his way, down
Everything you touch tears at your heart, apart
Of everything you see down in your soul never let you go
You've got everyone to help you on your way
You've got everyone to help you on your way
You've got everyone to help you on your way, down
You're a 666 conducer
How do you do the things you do sir
You're a 666 conducer
How do you do the things you do sir
You're a 666 conducer
How do you do
How do you do
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Other reviews
By GrantNicholas
The new work opens with the notes of "Took Out A Loan," dominated by a repetitive yet enjoyable riff and the changes in drum tempo.
"Killing The Light" with its forced falsetto is frankly unbearable and earns the palm of the worst track on the album.
By Alex1965
These thirteen tracks are each more beautiful than the last, and it would be a disservice to highlight only a few.
BRMC have a great ability to effortlessly range from an abrasive and gritty style to a more decidedly pop style, favoring contagious or better yet 'catchy' melodic solutions.
