Bush
The Science of Things

Three years after their album that definitively cemented their place in the spotlight, Razorblade Suitcase, Bush realize it's time for a change and begin a deep exploration with "The Science Of Things", an album that features a substantial use of electronics, drum machines, samples, and various loops.

It starts right off with Warm Machine, and you immediately realize something has changed; the track starts off well, although it loses itself a bit in a slightly monotonous chorus. It continues with Jesus Online, a great track where Bush show they know how to use electronics very well. The song begins with an acidic bass and then explodes in the chorus; the formula is the classic grunge, but the arrangements make all the difference here. Chemical Between Us, which is undoubtedly the most well-known song on the album, with its video topping global charts for many weeks. Another noteworthy track is certainly Prizefighter, the most "Grunge" song of the album, connecting partly to previous works but decidedly more original and layered with sinuous arrangements. Gavin Rossdale's wife, former No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani, also features on this work, dueting in Spacetravel, although her contribution to the song is almost unnecessary, as her voice is barely perceptible. But the true gems of the album are certainly three; 40 Miles from the Sun, Dead Meat, and Letting The Cables Sleep. These tracks significantly elevate the album's quality, and say what you will about Bush, but many bands would give an arm to have such songs in their repertoire. Dead Meat is the perfect synthesis of the new and old Bush, starting with Gavin’s barely whispered vocals, and then leaving you breathless at the explosion of the chorus. The two ballads, on the other hand, simply transport you to another world: both 40 Miles from the Sun and Letting The Cables Sleep have stunning lyrics that create an alienating atmosphere for the listener.

In conclusion, an excellent album from this band that has always been criticized for being Nirvana clones, a claim in my opinion only partially true and mostly applicable to their first album. However, with Razorblade Suitcase, a detachment and greater personality was already perceptible. With this work, unjustly overlooked, they take a new direction and definitively move away from this criticism, creating absolutely personal songs of very good quality, even on a lyrical level, just read Letting The Cables Sleep, written by Gavin Rossdale for a friend who contracted HIV.

An album to listen to without prejudice and with an open mind; only in this way can it be fully appreciated.