According to Blondes' frontman Matt Danger Lippman (in a recent buffaBLOG interview), the biggest compliment they can get from a fan is something along the lines of, "I don't really know what I just watched." In other words, the Blondes blur the lines of serious and completely joking. After spending the week listening to their EP, I see what they mean. Here's the thing - it would only be a bad thing if they couldn't admit it, but Brimstone Blondes owns up to it anyways and still comes out swinging. If you're confused, imagine Elvis Costello or Talking Heads writing a bunch of songs on April Fools Day.
"Brimstone Blondes, cool bible music for the youth of tomorrow." Dripping with sarcasm, this brief spoken mantra is pretty telling of what's about to come out of these wily kids. I don't know for sure (and I'd bet he'd be happy to hear that), but I think Lippman's lyrics are essentially the embodiment of cynicism. These guys are high school age, and they're already singing about coming back for a reunion tour... But lets be real - they more than likely could be facing a healthy future. Lippman is backed by some decent musicians. Guitarist Olivia Hastings makes her vocal debut here, and her alto harmonies offer a gentle buffer to Lippman's intense, sassy delivery. And let's not forget to mention violinist Jacob Cohen - can that dude shred or what? Either way, the end of "Reunion Tour" is one of my favorite moments on the album - a classical and beautiful violin run is followed by a big epic chorus. It's going to be funny hearing them play that song on their reunion tour in 2032.
The Talking Heads influence comes out strong in the second song on the EP (and contender for my favorite), the fantastic "Ghost Girl." After a groovy bass/drum verse from bassist Alex Mersinger and drummer Joseph Barth, the band launches into a peppy and catchy chorus. "You're such a ghost girl, don't mean to boast girl, but I'm so much better off without you." Amen, Lippman, Amen.
The Brimstone Blondes get to stand on their soapbox in their protest song "The State of Things." Springsteen would be proud, I'm sure. Lippman puts on his preacher robes and points a few fingers in this tune, and it's pretty obvious he's loving every minute of it (see the passionate vocals at 3:40). But when it comes down to it, "The State of Things" is probably Brimstone Blondes' most serious song, lyrically and musically, and is probably the best example of the Blondes at their tightest.
And finally, what hasn't buffaBLOG said about the album closer "My Neighbor Looks Like Christian Bale." Sure, "The State of Things" might be put together the best, "Reunion Tour" might have the coolest instrumentation, and "Ghost Girl" might have the best chorus, but "MNLLCB" is the most fun they have in any of their songs. It's a one-two punch of brash surf-rock that's just flat out enjoyable. Lippman, in another one of his sardonic lines, sings, "Maybe they're cousins or something, but he is kind of pale, maybe he's not related to Christian Bale!" Genius, I literally laughed out loud. Hell, Mark Wahlberg even makes a cameo, and who can argue with that?
We've been covering a lot of high-school age bands at buffaBLOG lately. If the local high schools can keep churning out music like Brimstone Blondes and their peers, we might be continuing that trend.
The Talking Heads influence comes out strong in the second song on the EP (and contender for my favorite), the fantastic "Ghost Girl." After a groovy bass/drum verse from bassist Alex Mersinger and drummer Joseph Barth, the band launches into a peppy and catchy chorus. "You're such a ghost girl, don't mean to boast girl, but I'm so much better off without you." Amen, Lippman, Amen.
The Brimstone Blondes get to stand on their soapbox in their protest song "The State of Things." Springsteen would be proud, I'm sure. Lippman puts on his preacher robes and points a few fingers in this tune, and it's pretty obvious he's loving every minute of it (see the passionate vocals at 3:40). But when it comes down to it, "The State of Things" is probably Brimstone Blondes' most serious song, lyrically and musically, and is probably the best example of the Blondes at their tightest.
And finally, what hasn't buffaBLOG said about the album closer "My Neighbor Looks Like Christian Bale." Sure, "The State of Things" might be put together the best, "Reunion Tour" might have the coolest instrumentation, and "Ghost Girl" might have the best chorus, but "MNLLCB" is the most fun they have in any of their songs. It's a one-two punch of brash surf-rock that's just flat out enjoyable. Lippman, in another one of his sardonic lines, sings, "Maybe they're cousins or something, but he is kind of pale, maybe he's not related to Christian Bale!" Genius, I literally laughed out loud. Hell, Mark Wahlberg even makes a cameo, and who can argue with that?
We've been covering a lot of high-school age bands at buffaBLOG lately. If the local high schools can keep churning out music like Brimstone Blondes and their peers, we might be continuing that trend.
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