Posts Tagged: boy kill boy


18
Feb 09

The Mercurial EP (2008) by The Mercurial

The Mercurial EP by The Mercurial

The Mercurial
The Mercurial EP

2008, unsigned (!)
punk rock, alt rock
4½

Taking their cues from 90′s rock and 80′s hair metal, The Mercurial is sonically a crazy mix of juvenile idiocy, a vaudeville act, and rambunctious rock, while they’re lyrically pure fun. I could draw comparisons to HIM, Panic at the Disco (before they got boring), Metallica, The Ramones, Latin music, and even Michael Jackson, but they never follow either influence long enough to make the comparisons stick. But you’ll find all of that and more on this debut EP, which was produced by Michael Birnbaum and Chris Bittner (Coheed and Cambria, The Sleeping).

I’ll admit that their sound is an acquired taste, but it’s hard to find fault with a rock band that has the energy that rock has lost over the past decade or so. Have I mentioned lead singer Chris Sanchez’s absolutely AMAZING vocals yet? His range would put any classical singer to shame and his voice adds such a fresh take to the Mercurial’s ‘up yours’ attitude that you won’t forget them anytime soon. Hair metal evidently had it uses if it gave the world this.

“Sloth vs. Platypus,” “By Passing Us By,” “Music.”
myspace, last.fm
Driver F’s Chase the White Whale, Boy Kill Boy’s Civilian

  • Share/Bookmark

12
Dec 08

We Thrive on Big Cities (2005) by Director

Director
We Thrive on Big Cities

2005, Atlantic Records
pop, alt rock

In this debut, Director manages to bore instead of inspire. By imitating the oft-imitated Strokes and other ‘in’ bands, it’s a miracle people still remember who this band is. Then again, since this album was released in 2006, they probably created the craze of what most bands sound like these days.

Honestly, I wouldn’t be so harsh on these guys if they had some decent lyrics, but since they fail at that I’ll have to leave my review at three stars. Even then, my review is high considering that I only liked (and saw promise in) “Reconnect,” which is an excellent single that you should buy on iTunes ASAP. After downloading, look up a more interesting band like Snowden or Boy Kill Boy.

“Reconnect,” “Big Cities,” “Easy To Me.”
myspace, cdworld.ie
Boy Kill Boy’s Civilian, Snowden’s Anti-Anti

  • Share/Bookmark

23
Mar 08

Stars And The Sea (2008) by Boy Kill Boy

Genre: indie-rock, post-punk revival, alt rock
Rating: ½
Check Out: “A-Ok,” “Promises,” “Rosie’s On Fire,” and “Kidda Kidda.”
myspace

After their first album Civilian prompted comparisons to The Killers, Boy Kill Boy decided that their second album needed to be more ‘honest’ and reflective of their personalities. They certainly succeeded in writing honest songs, but I fear Stars And The Sea will now cause them to be compared to the Strokes instead.

One of the best things about this album is the gradual movement from their over-produced, hook-choked first album. Here, the music actually seems to fit the lyrics with only makes the hooks more likable. Essentially, Boy Kill Boy has officially made the transition from ‘post-punk revival’ to ‘alternative rock.’ It’s certainly not a bad thing, but I wish they’d taken the evolution a step further and dared to make music that isn’t as smoothly produced. The lyrics make up for it however, which makes this an excellent sophomore album.

  • Share/Bookmark