February 28th, 2008British Sea Power: 'Do You Like Rock Music?'
British Sea Power has an unusual quirk. They are known for placing large stuffed birds on stage and wearing militaristic uniforms at their concerts. But weird idiosyncrasies aside, they are also known for being an inventive and edgy rock band, who sometimes sound a bit like Joy Division. In their new album, “Do You Like Rock Music?,” the Brighton based band does not disappoint. Even though a few of the songs are real duds, the album is overall a fun and exciting listen. The album’s opening and closing songs are almost identical. Like many young people, British Sea Power seems to feel a little bit disillusioned about the state of the world right now. On the opener “All In It” they creatively express this through an atmospheric track in which they repeat, “We are all in it/ And we close our eyes.” At the end of the album it takes them eight minutes to state the exact same two lines. This fruitless attempt at trying to express their discontent fails miserably. Their point was made at the beginning of the album, and they say absolutely nothing new with the closing track.British Sea Power’s ability to dampen a song’s power through excessive length is also demonstrated in, “Lights Out for Darker Skies.” The first three minutes of this song are wonderful, but the last three minutes feel listless and staid. Fortunately, this is not a repeated pattern. Most of the songs on “Do You Like Rock Music?,” are musically creative and display an impressive level of excitement and melody. British Sea Power’s ability to make political statements is not completely eradicated by “Close Our Eyes.” The song, “Waving Flags” is a great immigration anthem that convincingly expresses its position. But it is also just a great song. It is the strength of the band’s songwriting ability that carries the rest of the album. Tracks such as “Open the Door” and “Canvey Island” display a knack for pop song that few current bands display.British Sea Power’s ability to surprise the listener and not fall into a formulaic pattern helps strengthen the album. A perfect example is “Atom.” Initially a slow and indistinct tune, about a minute into the song, the band turns the energy up about five notches, and produces a fantastic song. On repeated listens, the slow intro no longer seems mediocre, but becomes a funky introduction. Treats like this that make “Do You Like Rock Music?” a fun and exciting album.Even though a few of the tracks are complete duds, the majority of British Sea Power’s new album is fresh, melodic and fun. It has already won the hearts of many fans in the UK, and will most likely do so here as well. Give it a listen and if you agree check them out for free at SLU’s Billiken Club on March 29. Check out http://thebillikenclub.wordpress.com/ for other free shows just a metro ride away.
