On the third album from the cultural commentators of American punk, the band goes back to the beginning to move forward steadily. Eight years ago, a band known as Bodega Bay created a double album, thirty-three noise-filled, very lo-fi songs.
While it was treated as a Brian Wilson epic, it was shaped and produced through MacBook, GarageBand, and distorted amps. And although these songs barely made it to the airwaves outside of his hometown of Bushwick, Brooklyn, they retained a special place in his heart.
By narrowing the aforementioned tracks down to fifteen, Bodega has given them a new perspective with purpose and poise. This record provides the band with a much more radio-friendly pop sheen, but still manages to retain that post-punk spirit that their first few albums initially sold us on. The harsh vibe has been toned down a bit, but it creates enough noise to deserve a place in the modern punk hall of fame.
Having said all that, opening track 'Dedicated To The Dedicated' is one of two new songs (the other City Is Taken rounds out the album perfectly). Dedicated… is a three-minute set of a song with a moving chorus and While it's not like the opening songs on their previous albums, it's certainly a strong indication of where this new perspective will take us.
'GND Deity' introduces us to the vocal duo of Ben Hoize and Nikki Belfiglo. With a rousing Nirvana bassline dancing throughout the song, Belfiglo steals the show with 70s punk vocals that reach Joan Jett levels of delight and destruction. 'Bodega Bait' has a heady, fuzzy guitar hook that runs through its brief period of driven rock.
The highlight of the album for me is 'Tarkovski', which sounds like a classic Pavement anthem. Another glorious riff that expands into a wonderful jam session designed for stadium rock while maintaining a true DIY groove. The drums are very filling and again the vocal duo helps bring the song to life. Delicious things. 'Major Amberson' tones down but still sounds wonderful with its early REM chorus and chord structure, it's a beautiful interlude to the confusing sounds around it.
'Stain Glaze' launches into a world of late '80s/early '90s rock distortion, and while it doesn't take off where I imagined it would, it's still a happy, joyful nod to alternative rock and all that. who created it. 'ATM' drags Bodega back to their punk roots with louder, more strident vocals, you'll scream along with its simplicity and visceral chorus. 'Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Drum' has delicious, Pixies-like bass (Adam See on bass has done a great job on this record) and more stinging vocals to climb on.
There is a trilogy of songs on this album (Cultural Consumer I, II and III) that carry the album along its spaced trajectory. Each part foregrounds its key element, and while Parts I and II are short bursts of Archers Of Loaf-infused melodic rock, it's Part III that wins the race with an even bigger and better chorus than the from the actuality. New York punk is made for. Like the band Parquet Courts, the song is stinging and magnificent.
Our brand could be your life It is a solid example of proof that sometimes you have to look back and reflect to move forward. In doing so, Bodgea has released a comprehensive and enchanting collection of songs that, over time and space, have blossomed into something wonderful.
thanks to our partners at www.xsnoize.com
