Best of the B's

That then is the B’s done, I suspect there will be a rogue one popping up, but on the whole that is it. I am scratching my head as to where The Internationale is, Billy Braggs more overt than normal, overtly political album of political anthems. The home of my favourite Billy Bragg track. It is either misfiled, only on LP or by the stereo.

That is of no consequence, this is about the most killer of the killer B’s, the best albums of the best albums. This is what this is about.
I must admit the B’s took a lot longer than expected, it wasn’t so much of a chore but as I had a lot of albums by a few artists, it did get a little laboured, of all of the B’s only 8 received 10 out of 10. Maybe in hindsight that should have been 6, maybe.

I have to admit that Let It Be is my favourite Beatles album and one of my favourite albums of all time. Its perfect, utterly perfect. But its quite predictable to say it was the best B, but it was in a lot of respects.
The B for me that was the best though was Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s Howl. A complete surprise musically that was thoroughly enjoyable and was nothing like what I was expecting.

Gone were the NME New Rock Revolution bollocks and they ploughed the furrow they wanted that was away from what was considered circa now. Introduced to me by a friend that has a knack of suggesting something that appeals to me, he doesn’t always get it right, but when he does, I take those things totally to my heart. Gene Clark, The Pernice Brothers and now Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s Howl.



Howl by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

And so as they draw to a close, the best B, Howl. Perfect.

The worst B? Rather unsurprisingly it was Bjork, and her a capella album, Medulla. The thought of it now sends shivers down my spine. Dreadful, just really really dreadful.

Howl

Ages ago I reviewed a self made Black Rebel Motorcycle Club compilation and gave it 1 out of 10. Today I listened to a copy of an album a friend made me by the same band, the album is called Howl and I have to be quick here as cider is being poured downstairs and Chiles is on the telly, a thrilling cocktail, you will no doubt agree.
Anyway Howl, Howl just may be the first CD that gets into the car 2 days on the trot, it is an absolutely fantastic album that was a joy to listen to start to finish. Influences on this still are Big Star, but also a nice combination of watered down Delta blues, gospel and enough rock for it not to make the mistakes of the early singles I hated.
This album, potentially could be the best B when I get to the end, mainly because I was not expecting it to be so flaming good. Seek it out, really, in the mean time cider beckons 10 out of 10, I am not shitting you. Just wish it was more detailed.




Open Invitation by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Todays album is a self made compilation that I put together around 2002. Its features the work of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, BRMC. There was considerable fuss surrounding the band around that time and I wanted to effectively see what the fuss was about. I shouldn’t have bothered.
I am trying to be objective here, and as far as the songs are concerned they are good songwriters, the problem with BRMC is that they are extremely derivative and wear their influences for all to show, and this is what distracts me.
Distracts is a bit light, I was actually sitting in the car and didn’t know if I was enjoying the 17 tracks that I put on the CD, 17 tracks and it covers their early period of Spread Your Love, Red Eyes and Tears, Love Burns etc. I just didn’t know, I could hear that they had good tunes but I think the way they were presented made me think otherwise. The Verve, Jesus and Mary Chain and Big Star all feature incredibly heavy and it’s a combination that grates. Particularly the JAMC influence, I don’t really like the band and so another band so blatantly influenced by them isn’t going to get my seal of approval.
BRMC, like Jet and The Datsuns came about off the back of The Strokes and were at the forefront of what the NME called the New Rock Revolution. It was effectively watered down garage rock for the young set. I do however know people that loved all that and they hadn’t been part of the young set for some time. So maybe its me missing the point, maybe its my ears that are wrong, maybe BRMC were/are good and its me that doesn’t get them. Perhaps if I get past the heavy worn influences and listen to the songwriting I will appreciate them all the more? Maybe, or maybe I will pop this compilation in the bin on my way home and recycle the jewel case. 1 out of 10



Spread Your Love by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club