Bane release their angry side
My reaction to Bane is that they're hardcore, what with the fast and noisy guitar and incessant shouting, but the more I listen to 'The Note', the more I realise that it's close to punk. Black Flag can be heard as an influence, as can The Pixies, but for all that there is quite a distinctive sound to the album. Unfortunately, the vocals don't always really match the music, but when they do it really works.
First track, 'Shoulda Woulda Coulda' passes me by in a blur of noisiness and yelling, so really the first decent song on the album is 'Pot Committed'. It reminds me off Jetplane Landing and Les Savy Fav in its ferocious punk, and there's a strong tune behind it. As it's so passionate and angry, the vocals really work - it would make a brilliant protest song if the need arose. When 'Hoods Up' rolls around, I begin to realise that 'the kids' are a very important issue for the band, but also how well they do angry punk. Like 'Pot Committed', it's rousing despite the very self-conscious nature of the lyrics - they smack of desperation.
And the ferocity doesn't stop there either. 'Don't Go' rushes along, a whirl of drums, invigorating vocals, and driving guitars - it makes you want to go and do something, anything, it almost makes you ashamed of your lethargy. That, I think, is the draw of this band - the passion which is missing from so many commercial acts is so good to see.
But, Bane are not just all about the hard and fast. Songs like 'End with an Ellipsis' and 'Wasted on the Young' show a softer side, subdued even. It makes a nice change, as tinges of Bad Religion creep in and it gets a bit unnerving at times. The song is almost punk rock, and surprisingly the vocals and the music really strike a chord (pretty much heart rending). And there's a surprise too, when towards the end, Bane let post rock take over with unexpected results - it sounds great.
For the most part, this is a great album. Bane have clearly experimented with their style, and the end result is an album worth a listen. The only downsides are 'Shoulda Woulda Coulda', 'One for the Boys' and 'Swan Song' which are unexciting, and mar what is an otherwise decent album.