Album: Howl

Song Title

Time

Shuffle Your Feet

Howl

Devil's Waitin'

Ain't No Easy Way

Still Suspicion Holds You Tight

Fault Line

Promise

Weight Of The World

Restless Sinner

10)

Gospel Song

11)

Complicated Situation

12)

Sympathetic Noose

13)

Line

Album: Howl

Song Title

Time

Shuffle Your Feet

Howl

Devil's Waitin'

Ain't No Easy Way

Still Suspicion Holds You Tight

Fault Line

Promise

Weight Of The World

Restless Sinner

10)

Gospel Song

11)

Complicated Situation

12)

Sympathetic Noose

13)

Line

Performer Notes

A significant departure for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, HOWL finds the Los Angeles-based trio abandoning the cold, amped-up sound of TAKE THEM ON, ON YOUR OWN in favor of a more heartfelt, acoustic-oriented aesthetic. (It's noteworthy that frontman Robert Turner has gone back to his birth name, Robert Levon Been, and his father, Michael Been, of the 1980s band the Call, contributes piano to one track.) The album's artwork nods to classic '60s record sleeves, and it's no coincidence; the music here is stripped-down and folk-inflected, revealing a major change from the group's earlier reverb-heavy, Jesus & Mary Chain-influenced vibe. Elements of rural blues, soul, and even gospel work their way into these tunes, but the BRMC stills rocks--just in a more inspired and inventive way. Those who had written the band off after TAKE THEM ON will likely embrace HOWL, which shows a promising act making bold steps to revitalize its career.

Professional Reviews

Spin (p.101) - "JC is a decent bandleader, sitting in with BRMC as they demolish their wailing wall of sound in favor of back-porch acoustic strumming and Mississippi-burning harmonica." - Grade: B

Entertainment Weekly (No. 836, p.60) - "...[D]eeply hypnotic narco-blues that conjure both The Band's epic pastorals...and Nick Cave's Southern Goth...." - Grade: A-

Uncut (p.105) - 4 stars out of 5 - "Sparse, literate - the title is a nod to local beat guru Allen Ginsberg - and full of killer tunes....It's unquestionably a cry from the heart."

Magnet (p.53) - Ranked #7 in Magnet's "The 20 Best Albums Of 2005" - "The pair trades newly audible verses, preaching the blues, whiskey and religion."

Mojo (Publisher) (p.94) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[T]heir third album sees them breaking free and heading into Americana's well-traveled wilds....and, in the album's hidden track, producing their most beautiful recording yet."