Album Review: Broken Bells - Broken Bells
Since the announcement of the Broken Bells project back in September of 2009 there has been an awful lot of hype surrounding the band. Broken Bells are a two piece super group including James Mercer (the front man indie heroes The Shins) and the other half is made up by Danger Mouse (of Gnarls Barkley fame) although Mr. Mouse is billed under his real name of Brian Burton.
This month sees the release of their self-titled debut album; many have suggested that Broken Bells are just a Shins spin-off; an understandable criticism considering the two bands share the same lead singer. However Broken Bells are more than just James Mercer, Brian Burton is a well established drummer and excellent producer.
The production on the record is fantastic and some of the songs are James Mercer at his absolute best. New single ‘Vaporize’ is such a great song, and is James Mercer at his lyrical finest as the following lyric proves: “Why should we waste it on, buying into the same old lies? The longer we wait around, the faster the years go by.”
Thankfully the album is not made of just one hit; it is a record full of hits. ‘The High Road’ is a splendid mix of Burton’s drums / production and Mercer’s incredible voice. A criticism of many bands albums is that they have weak endings, but not this band as the album goes from strength to strength. The last two songs, ‘Mongrel Heart’ and ‘The Mail & Misery’ especially are beautifully put together pieces of music by two wonderful musicians.
Further on from that ‘The Ghost Inside’, ‘October’ and ‘Citizen’ are all very different in their own right but show the band’s depth and quality.
Broken Bells are always going to receive the Shins comparisons but they are very much their own band and proof that with the right vocals and front man (Mercer) and brains (Burton) something beautiful can be produced.
8/10
Broken Bells - Vaporize (Download via Mediafire)
