Concorde 2, 26 August 2009
Crystal Antlers are a difficult band to categorise. The Californian five-piece is a somewhat eclectic entity with obviously broad musical tastes. One would generally think this could only be a positive thing, variety being the spice of life and all. But when a singer has as generic a wail as Antlers’ frontman Johnny Bell, it can be difficult to find a hook strong enough to stop you from falling into the self-indulgent abyss that comprises most of their repertoire.
Their saving grace comes in the form of “Parting Song For The Torn Sky”, a psychedelic skirmish that tips its proverbial cap to the Mars Volta in one of their calmer moments.
I’m all for a bit of healthy boundary pushing, but the unfortunate fact is that this band is too experimental for their own good. Their particular brand of alternative indie rock is simply vague. The lyrics are virtually indecipherable from the melee of non-specific noise spewing from the rest of the band and they are grossly lacking in actual songs.
Having heard many rave reviews of Black Lips’ apparently blistering live shows, it was with high hopes and great expectations that I awaited their performance tonight.
Any optimism I had left quickly disappeared though as realised all that was in store for the next half hour was another dose of bitter mediocrity. The Atlanta four-piece obviously couldn’t care less about their musical abilities, and this (so I’ve heard) is what’s supposed to make them so ‘special’. From what I heard, the only thing special about them is that it sounds like our favourite chubby eight-year-old, Eric Cartman on vocals.
Their trashy garage rock has been heard one hundred times before and by all means will surely go down well at your mate’s ‘now legendary’ house party. But as far as originality goes, forget it.
Words by James Watts
