New Music Spotlight ::: February Album Reviews (Part Two)

BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB – SO LONG, SEE YOU TOMORROW

50 years after The Beatles debuted on American soil, becoming one of the first English groups to hit it big in the US. Now it’s no surprise that England is putting out talented bands one after another. Bombay Bicycle Club is one of those bands whose stateside presence has been growing larger in the States. Like the Fab Four, BBC (the band not the channel) is a four piece band that met when they were teenagers. The group is made up of Jack Steadman (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Jamie Macoll (guitar), Ed Nash (bass), and Suren de Saram (drums). In their first year as a band they entered into Virgin Mobile's "Road to V" competition. As part of winning the heavy competition the four friends were given the opening slot of the 2006 V Festival.

Following this performance they received a lot of press in the London area, even an admiring article in NME, one of England’s biggest music publications. In May of 2007 the band released their EP The Boy I Used to Be, followed by How We Are in October. Their first full length album, I Had the Blues but I Shook Them Loose, came in June of 2008 after all its’ members had graduated secondary school. In 2010 the band was nominated and won NME’s Best New Band award, beating out, now household names, Mumford & Sons and The xx. The boys from London continued to tour and record, releasing Flaws(2010) and A Different Kind of Fix (2011).

On November 4, 2013, the band aired Carry Me, the first single from their newest LP, So Long, See You Tomorrow. In a year of great intro songs, this album does not disappoint. The opening track ‘Overdone’ blends a mixture of sounds like a new age orchestra with Steadman’s voice guiding you through it before an abrupt ending. The second single off the album, is the upbeat ‘It’s Alright Now’, a dream pop melody that lives up to its name. ‘Carry Me’ brings a heftier set of instrumentals, including synths, to match deeper vocals. Those deeper tones are evened out by the ambient flow of ‘Home By Now’ which showcases the band’s ability to come together to make a complete sound. The album mellows out with ‘Eyes on You’ a piano driven early ninties-esque duet ballad, channeling their inner-James Blake. ‘Feel’ brings back the energy with eastern influences that make you want to get up and move.

The album is bookended with its namesake, a glo-fi space floating track. Not to go out lying down ‘So Long, See You Tomorrow’ peps up the tune mid-song leaving you wanting more. As a whole the album lobbies as their most complete and wide-ranging album to date. Is this the album that will finally grab America’s attention? BBC has already toured through and played nearly every American festival creating a sizeable fan base. As with other British bands, the best example being Arctic Monkeys, they still remain hidden secrets despite being casually known and well-traveled . It’s about time people start taking notice of this fab four.

Top Tracks

Home By Now

So Long, See You Tomorrow

Carry Me

Overdone

B Rating: 82

R Rating: 83

Overall: 82.5

Local Dates: May 13th at Terminal West with Royal Canoe

Like this album? Try….from 2013

Washed Out – Paracosm

Lucy Rose – Middle of the Bed EP

Peace – In Love

Local Natives – Hummingbird

BAND OF HORSES – ACOUSTIC AT THE RYMAN

 

There’s not much to say about a live album, but they are a great chance to hear bands that you haven’t been able to catch in concert. Live albums are also great because, most of the time they work as a ‘Best Of’ record and in this case give you a different feel and a glimpse at them acoustic. The 10-set recording gives you an intimate look at these five indie rockers, complete with their biggest hits including ‘No Ones Gonna Love You’, ‘The Funeral’, and ‘Detlef Schrempf’.

The Shaky Knees alums are headed by Ben Bridwell. Originally from Irmo, South Carolina, Bridwell is one of the University of Georgia’s biggest fans, even being commissioned by Grantland to preview the Bulldogs’ 2013 season. Like UGA’s season, this album shows great promise and results despite missing key components of their normal setup.

Top Tracks

Detlef Schrempf

No One’s Gonna Love You

The Funeral

Marry Song

B Rating: 78

R Rating: 86

Overall: 82

Local Dates: Monday, March 3^rd at Trustees Morris Garden Theatre in Savannah, Georgia

Like this album? Try….from 2013

Local Natives – Hummingbird

Volcano Choir – Repave

Jim James – Regions of Light and Sound of God