In recent times, a cluster of
bands have sprouted up from the sun-drenched Los Angeles ground and began
defining the sound of the city. Green shoots full of life are definitely
growing from Bleached. Whose second
full length album Welcome the Worms
is full of life and vigour.
If there was an album that
sounded like the embodiment of a city, then this would be it. ‘Welcome the
Worms’ explores the depths of punk-pop and embraces the whole stoner-rock vibe.
And it does all this whilst sounding like a sunny day on the west coast of
America. Heavily influenced by bands like Nirvana and Hole, Bleached have a
knack of putting together heavy, swashbuckling songs that feel like a cruise along an
LA highway.
Sisters Jennifer and Jessica
Clavin are the real driving force behind these songs and this album. Jennifer’s
lyrics are – at times – very personal here, which is refreshing as their
previous album ‘Ride Your Heart’ felt a bit like it was drenched in cliché’s. ‘Trying
to Lose Myself Again’ details previous experiences about nights spent in LA “fooling
around” and on ‘Wasted on You’ she calls out somebody who she believes treats
her badly “Take some friends just to go to your show, and watch you sing about
another girl” but, the vocal delivery clears up what she thinks of the matter.
She just doesn't care. Her vocals are full of attitude throughout the album but
on the particular track she’s basically saying “fuck off”.
The first half of the album see’s
the band at their strongest. ‘Wednesday Night Melody’ is without doubt the stand-out
track with its booming intro and vocal hook. The song is centred around a bone
shaking drum beat, enough to wake the stoner rockers from their naps. However,
as the midway point passes, Welcome the
Worms becomes a tad predictable. There is no change on the journey the band
are taking us, apart from a slight left turn provided by the heavily Nirvana-inspired
‘Desolate Town’ (even the name sounds
like the place where Kurt Cobain grew up) but from then on it fizzles out.
Without doubt there are clear signs
of progression which is evident in the sense there are some real hits in the
making on this album. But, it couldn't quite be sustained long enough over the
34 minutes. Bleached have the songs, the look and the sound (which is now
really polished and tight) and they definitely aren't pulling over just yet.
7/10
Post a Comment