British Sea Power – No Lucifer
Awhile back, I read a negative review of British Sea Power’s latest album “Do You Like Rock Music?” and it really got me angry. For some reason with this band they hit all chords with me so much sometimes I just don’t see negatives here. “No Lucifer” is the bands second single from the said album. The song starts off with a quiet first 20 seconds and then morphs into a giant sing a long. By the end of the song you will be chanting “Easy, Easy, Easy.” The song is also a tribute to an English wrestler. Then a lyric like “give me the dummy, tit” could mean a lot of things in that context as well. This is another fine epic from the band really shows off all the meat that the album really has to offer.
By John Siwicki
British Sea Power – Waving Flags
British Sea Power instantly struck a chord with me. All of their music hits all my check marks. On the eve of their third album anticipation couldn’t possible be any higher. “Do You Like Rock Music?” will brighten up the early part of 2008. “Waving Flags” follows up the “Krankenhaus?” as the first official single from the new record. “Waving Flags” just feels right and it feels like another classic BSP song. The track does have the more polished epic feel like “Please Stand Up.” The big hook that gets those juices flowing inside. Yan delivers another stellar vocal performs as he welcomes in those eastern European immigrants. Another sweeping and huge epic from BSP, and it is another song that will fit up their nice with some of the best of the band so far. After, all this it seems like “Do You Like Rock Music?” will be another gem. January can’t come soon enough. “Waving Flags” is such a compelling piece of music that will have your attention and with the subject of immigration taken on this song it requires many listens.
By John Siwicki
British Sea Power – Do You Like Rock Music?
British Sea Power have been asking us a lot of questions lately. The bands latest EP ‘Krankenhaus?’ and now the bands third full length album asks us “Do You Like Rock Music?” Yes, BSP so what do you have for us? They have just released the album that to borrow one of the bands phrases lead them to brilliantine immortality. It has been nearly seven years since the bands first single “Fear of Drowning” was released onto the public and this album seems to be culmination of the last seven years for the band. The album reaches the promise we thought when we all heard “The Decline Of” and the confidence of “Open Season.”
When the album first strikes up the tribal like drums of “All In It” strike up and starts the album with such a lush and grandiose song. The build up is very steady and a great pace and the pay off is rather huge. “Lights Out For The Darker Side” is just one of the great songs on the album (there are many of these). It starts off in typical BSP fashion but the song at around three minutes in the song breaks down and goes in a completely different direction. The second half is again another rather simple back and forth vocal exchange about the history of light. But, when all the parts of the song hit you it just sends a shiver down your spine. “No Lucifer” might be called a little Arcade Fire feel to it because of the violins and the chanting but they do just as good and if not better. The song is just the perfect balance of post-rock Canadianisms and raw emotion. “Waving Flags” the bands first single and fascinating ode to immigration and deeming us all “barbarians.” Then we get two songs from last years “Krankenhaus?” EP “Down On The Ground” and “Atom.” The first is full of epic riffs and beautiful lyrics. “Atom” has a slow start but you get rewarded in the end. It wouldn’t be right if the band did not end the record without a hugely massive song. “We Close Your Eyes” is like the reprisal version of “All In It” but it ends the record on the perfect note.
“Do You Like Rock Music?” is the album we all thought they would make after “Decline.” It is not in the same league as the bands debut but this record is magical. It rocks in all the right places it is complicated and miserable in all the others as well. That is what makes the album so special, it never gets stale it never wears on you and it always seems to amaze you after each listen.
By John Siwicki