Review: The Bludlows – Americaville

The Bludlows – Americaville
2009, The Bludlows

The Bludlows rose to pre-eminence in the Boston Rock N Roll scene with their mix of Rock, Punk and even Americana. With influences including The Rolling Stones, Tool, Pavement, Nirvana, Bob Dylan and Captain Beefheart, it is safe to expect the unexpected. The Bludlows’ latest CD, Americaville, finds the band testing out all sorts of musical waters.

Americaville opens with the frenetic guitars of the title track; you'll be looking for a pit from the opening chords. The bass is the star of this song, driving the action with a vibrant and inventive bass line that varies the sound. The song is loosely political, lamenting the decline of America both internally and in the eyes of the world. ATG is Post-Punk Americana that sounds like a cross between 54-40 and the Tragically Hip. The song takes a shot at the greed of corporate executives in a veiled and mildly humorous fashion. On Layin' Down, The Bludlows hit the Tragically Hip sound-alike button once again in one of the more enjoyable tracks on the disc. Blockade is very catchy, built on a guitar riff that runs 8 bars and acts almost as a counter-melody. The Bludlows close out Americaville with Point Of Reference, a seven minute-plus musical odyssey that borders on the psychedelic Noize popular in the late-1960's.

Americaville plays like a soundtrack to a world in decline, joining together post-Punk sensibilities with sonic dissonance and the occasional big hook that binds it all together. The Bludlows come across as a sonically talented but stylistically ambivalent band that play what they want, caution be damned. Americaville is an interesting listen that suggests there are more involved and divergent tunes yet to be born in the heart of Boston. Check them out and stick around for the ride. It could be interesting.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about The Bludlows at their homepage or on MySpace. You can purchase Americaville as either a CD or download at CDBaby.

Review: Canadian Invasion - Three Cheers For The Invisible Hand

Canadian Invasion – Three Cheers For The Invisible Hand
2009, Old Janx Spirit Music

Philadelphia’s Canadian Invasion comes calling with their latest release, Three Cheers For The Invisible Hand. Smartly sardonic lyrics mix with mellow-rock arrangements to create a subdued listening environment. Lead vocalist Andy Canadian and gang have traveled the East Coast of the US for the past couple of years, sharing the stage with the likes of David Bowie, The Rolling Stones and Lou Reed. Their songs strive to reflect the lifelessness of suburban living, where the soul has been ripped quietly away by separating residents from both the action of the city and the vibrancy of nature.

Anyone who publishes under the name Old Janx Spirit Music gets points for chutzpah but can they carry the name? Canadian Invasion has perhaps met their objectives too well. Lyrically strong, the music is not without energy, but reflects the hum-drum angst of suburban living all too well, forming a sort of musical monotone that stretches across the CD. The sound is pleasant and works for the individual songs here, but the lack of significant sonic variation across the CD makes for a listening experience more memorable for what it’s not than what it is. Even the occasional moment of sonic violence or turmoil would spice this up and provide some ebb and flow to the sound; they are not to be found.

Nevertheless, highlights abound. Tomorrow and Tomorrow is a great musical arrangement, though subdued. Americana/Country accents flavor this song nicely. One Hand Claps The Other is the closest thing to a real change of pace, featuring s new wave flavor and a vibrant energy level, but still produced in that very subdued, repressed sound that dominates the album. Neighbors, the final track, is the absolute class of the album. It gives hope that whatever might come next from Canadian Invasion might provide more spark.

Canadian Invasion is a very talented band, that much is clear. Three Cheers For The Invisible Hand has solid to plus songwriting and a couple of truly inspired moments, but falls victim to a uniformity of sound that makes it seem less than it is. It seems as if Canadian Invasion was going for a specific sound, with continuity, for the album. If so, they outdid themselves. It’s a pleasant listen, but it will be too easy to tune out because of that consistency.

Rating: 2.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Canadian Invasion at http://www.canadianinvasion.org/. You can purchase a copy of Three Cheers For The Invisible Hand at Amazon.com.