People seemed oddly resistant to Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s roots-heavy, largely acoustic third album, 2005’s remarkable Howl. To some, it was a drastic departure from their more youthful and aggressive sound; to others, the dabbling in blues and gospel felt calculated. Neither was true. Although the sonic balance may have shifted away from the sludgy distortion of the past, the dark, stinging, often harrowing album sounded both genuine and entirely consistent with the band’s fundamental character.
Baby 81 finds BRMC further refining their distinctive, invigorating blend of swirling, fuzzed-out guitar squall and stripped-down bluesy soul. Songwriters Peter Hayes and Robert Levon Been continue to complement each other well; Hayes is grittier and more direct in his approach, while Been tends to be a bit more arty and dramatic.
With longtime drummer Nick Jago rejoining the fold, it’s not surprising the band’s bruising side would emerge more prominently this time around. “Took Out A Loan”, “Berlin” and “Need Some Air” ought to delight fans of their frenetic earlier style. More impressive, however, are “Weapon Of Choice”, “666 Conducer”, “Not What You Wanted” and “Am I Only”, which fuse the group’s shimmering electric muscle and their strumming acoustic heart to powerful effect.
The trio moves in some compelling new directions as well. “Killing The Light” is a heavy, plodding ballad that deftly combines slashing, squealing guitars with soulful falsetto vocals, and the nine-minute “American X” features a lengthy psych-guitar break that would make most jam bands proud.
