As of recent trying to wrap my head around critically acclaimed indie band Black Country, New Road.
On some level, I love – I mean, at points, really love – the instrumentation (moreso on their debut, For the first time, rather than their second effort). There’s so much skill involved and it shows on many tracks of their recorded output, despite some repetitious moments.
But it’s the vocals, the lyrical subject matter, the length of the tracks, those all combined are the biggest hurdles for me.
Not to imply insult to the vocalist – it just doesn’t work for me, does not seem to mesh well; I almost want a grittier, more vibrant vocal to match with the flourishes of the instrumentation…on the records it seems very frayed out and awkward at points, underwhelming, lacking enough power to deliver the odd lyricism, that of which also seems to go over my head. Combine these with lengthier tracks, it begins to feel like quite a slog to get through especially on their most recent record Ants from Up There. While I am not adverse to longer tracks, its those other aspects that wear me down when listening.
I’m not certain that the hype was earned if I had to be honest. Not for lack of trying, I don’t think I’m trying to be contrarian. With the case of their contemporary Black Midi, I eventually grew past my initial dislike with their stellar albums Cavalcade and Hellfire (still iffy on Schlagenheim though…), so it may just be a matter of continuing to sit with it. Who knows.
Beautiful Extremes, Etc. - b4bbl3.com 