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Rating: The first significant release in the British music scene of 2008 is this "Do You Like Rock Music?" by British Sea Power.
The new album is the third from the Brighton group. The band, after their well-received debut "The Decline Of British Sea Power," made a mark on British hearts and charts with the decent "Open Season," thanks also to a catchy single like "It Ended On An Oily Stage." Considered natural heirs to Joy Division, their sound seems to actually span various genres and influences.
Epic and resounding guitars, along with a sound that alternates moments of extreme catchiness with sharp and edgy sonic bursts, are characteristics of the English quartet's sonic DNA.
Preceded by a full three months with the "Krankenhaus?" e.p., the new work essentially confirms everything good the band has expressed so far.
From the brief and funereal opening with "All In It" to the unsettling and lengthy conclusion of "We Close Our Eyes," we are faced with a record that is not particularly brilliant yet remains valid, living more on its sonic output (excellent, moreover B.S.P. is considered a great live band) than on the intrinsic quality of each single track. Exceptions include works like "Lights Out For Darker Skies," which starts with a nice healthy guitar riff combined with a frantic drum roll; just when you think you've figured it all out, the track extends to over six minutes in length, showing off tempo and melody changes as if it were three or four songs in one. Also beautiful is the catchy "Waving Flags," selected for radio rotation not by chance. "No Lucifer" dangerously edges (too) close to the Editors side, making it pleasant just by the skin of its teeth; certainly, Yan's chanting interpretation doesn't help. Extremely appreciable, however, is "Canvey Island," in an emotional crescendo. "Down On The Ground," already present in "Krankenhaus?", is rather driving rock 'n roll (as is "A Trip Out" - in which the ghostly presence of Kasabian is present and felt - and "Atom," also in the aforementioned ep) which turns chaotic in the beautiful finale. The instrumental "The Great Skua" is pleasant and well-structured, the thrillsian "Open The Door" is hypermelodic; in the middle, there's a place for a claustrophobic "No Need To Cry."
Despite "Do You Like..." being a more than sufficient album, from the talented B.S.P. one frankly expected a little more.
The British year in music starts, however, more than well.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
04 Waving Flags (04:07)
You are astronomical fans of alcohol
So welcome in
Arising in the East and setting in the West
All waving flags
We're all waving flags now
Waving flags
But don't be scared
And you, you will be here for a while
And it's all a joke
Oooh, it's all a joke
Ooooooh
Are here of legal drinking age, on minimum wage
Well, welcome in
From across the Vistula, you've come so very far
All waving flags
We're all waving flags now
Waving flags
But don't be scared
And you, you will be here for a while
And it's all a joke
Oooh, it's all a joke
Ooooooh
Beer is not dark
Beer is not light
It just tastes good
Especially tonight
(Oh welcome in)
So welcome in, we are Barbarians
Oh welcome in, cross the Carpathians
Oh we can't fail, not with Czech ecstasy
No we won't fail, not with Czech ecstasy
So welcome in
09 Atom (05:38)
I'll be the first to admit this is a bright but haunted age
I just don't know now now I just can't say hey hey
When you get down down to the heart and the bones of it
Thats when it breaks you know, thats when it falls apart
but thats the prize now
oh caveat emptor, open the atoms core
but thats the prize now
oh caveat emptor open the atoms core
oh caveat emptor open the atoms core
Whoa!
Oh Oh i just dont get it
And you keep slipping down the surface of things
i just cant take it now, i just cant wait for more
when you get down down to the sub atomic part of it
thats when it breaks you know, thats when it falls apart
oh caveat emptor, open the atoms core
Whoa!
Whoa!
Oh Oh I just don't get it
Get it
Oh I Just dont get it
Get It! Get It! Get It!
I just don't get it
Whoa!
I I just don't get it
No I, I Just don't get it
Just dont get it
get it get it get it get it
oh
Whats wrong with you?
ey lad?
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By northernsky
It’s a gentle epic, a sounding oxymoron, a delicate epic that is fully consistent with BSP’s debut.
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