B.R.M.C.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (2001)

review by: Jason Thornberry
Date: 6/6/01

I think my friends have good taste, so I when I overheard Love Burns with that very hooky chorus in the salon I go to I asked who it was. I got the cd a few days later and have since had several songs become wedged in my skull.

This San Francisco trio creates a dark, and morose at times soundscape that hangs precariously on overcast, joyless but melodic guitar lines. This debut has a rather dingy and gray sound quality, though all of the performances are distinct. If the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club album had been released in a day-glo sleeve with the band members dressed as clowns immersed in a smiling birthday cake fight I'd still be calling this a dark album.

Named after Marlon Brando's rough and tumble gang in the 1950 film The Wild One this group are able to evoke the gloom of Joy Division with the collated dissonance of The Jesus & Mary Chain and the sarcasm of early Cure. Recommended. Standouts include Awake, Love Burns, Red Eyes and Tears, Rifles, the Lennon-ish Head Up High and Salvation.