BRMC Cooks Up Interesting Casserole of Sounds
Darkness and intensity define “Beat the Devil’s Tattoo”
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Beat The Devil's Tattoo
Released on Mar 09, 2010
Any current student or graduate of Michigan State University knows that the initials B.R.C. mean the dorm cafeteria is serving Broccoli Rice Casserole which, surprisingly, is a student favorite. In much the same way, any fan of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club recognizes the initials BRMC as standing for a mix of garage rock, psychedelia and heavy blues which, not surprisingly, is available in droves on the band’s new release “Beat the Devil’s Tattoo.”
Originally from San Francisco but now residing full-time in Los Angeles, the core of BRMC consists of guitarist Peter Hayes formerly of The Brian Jonestown Massacre and bassist Robert Levon Been. The band is rounded out by new drummer Leah Shapiro who joins from the Ravonettes replacing original member Nick Jago.
The band’s sixth release, Beat the Devil’s Tattoo is their first on their own imprint, Abstract Dragon which is under Vagrant Records. The album name comes was provided, indirectly, by Shapiro who gifted Hayes a book of Edgar Allan Poe stories inside which he came across the intriguing phrase.
New label, new drummer, whatever the reason, this BRMC release is one of the band’s more even-handed efforts across a somewhat spotty career. The first track, which incidentally is the title track, sets the tone with an intense almost tribal beat that continues on throughout the release. The somewhat minimal sound of track one quickly gives way to much more intensity. Many tracks sound like modern day descendants of Love and Rockets or The Jesus and Mary Chain that were introduced to garage rockers like the Hives or White Stripes.
Standout tracks include “Mama Taught Me Better,” “River Styx” and the down-tempo song “The Toll,” all of which not only uphold the signature sound but are fully developed songs with intriguing structure and tempo changes. The haunting sounds of “The Toll” even include the addition of a female voice which makes the song that much more intense.
Unfortunately several other tracks are not as fully developed. The guitar riff on “War Machine” is excellent but it’s not enough to be an entire song. By the midway point of the track listeners may begin to pray for a solo or a drum fill to break up the monotony. A similar problem plagues “Sweet Feeling,” a very emotional down-tempo song which features the timely addition of a harmonica to the mix, but never really fulfills its early promise.
Overall, “Beat the Devil’s Tattoo” lives up to the promise BRMC has always offered, a dense musical mix that evokes comparisons to the dirtiest sounds of the Rolling Stones, the most psychedelic moments of Led Zeppelin and the rawest moments of the Velvet Underground. But much like the BRC at Michigan State, a little goes a long way and this release is a little too long.
Download Beat The Devil's Tattoo here
High Point
“The Toll” a haunting down-tempo effort.
Low Point
Several songs that drone on without any real changes or structure.
Posted by Mike Stern on Mar 16, 2010 @ 6:00 am