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 ’80s throwback CDs hit or miss A Review By Adrian Repasch With the ’80s revival in full swing — though some are foreseeing its end soon — a few more entries have entered the fray. With such an array of music to reference, a band could have a long shelf life if they choose the right path. Here are two of the newer bands that have released albums recently. The Bravery ‘The Bravery’ The Bravery has crafted a wonderful album that draws you in and makes you hit the repeat button. The self-titled debut moves smoothly from song to song with “Public Service Announcement” being the only track that seems out of place; the album could stand to lose it. Other than that track, it is hard to find any that stand above the rest. “An Honest Mistake” and “Unconditional” are the two songs that could make the rotation over the airwaves. Like most of the new-wave revivalist bands, The Bravery has their share of comparisons. They are mostly compared to Duran Duran; it is not hard to hear the resemblance stylistically, but the lyrics lean more toward Depeche Mode and The Cure. Comparisons to more current bands include Interpol, The Faint and of course The Killers, since they are the forerunners in the new-wave revival at the moment. Bloc Party ‘Silent Alarm’ Gaining attention for being a politically motivated post-punk band, Bloc Party releases “Silent Alarm” after their “Bloc Party EP” gained them a few U.K. singles. Lauded as the next great band to come from England, this album fails to inspire or live up to the hype. Inconsistent at best, “Silent Alarm” moves from funky to moody and back with no apparent pacing. Bloc Party would do best to stick to one genre and their charged lyrics would benefit. Lyrically they are on key, they just haven’t found the music to match. Among the mash, “Like Eating Glass” and “Banquet” are the stand-out post-punk tracks. “Blue Light” and “This Modern Love” are other notable tracks; they touch on the moody side. They hint at the possibility of Bloc Party being a great band, but the album needs to be reworked. They are often likened to Joy Division and Blur; the latter seems more of a fit. Bloc Party does not come close to the staggering claim “As vital as the Clash was in ’77, as sinister as the Specials in 1982. Bloc Party will be the band of 2005, no contest” that is slapped on the album cover. Tracks from both CDs can be heard on SCAD Radio (www.scadradio.org). Repasch is a SCAD alumnus (M.F.A., graphic design, 2001). |
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