Bully Aren’t Losing it – Album Review
Sometimes the algebraic equation of music doesn’t add up. The work you did feels right, but ultimately you don’t have the solution. This is the case with Bully’s second album, Losing.
Bully is from Nashville, Tennessee, and consists of Alicia Bognanno (vocals/guitar), Clayton Parker (guitar), Reece Lazarus (bass) and, Stewart Copeland (drums, and no, not that Stewart Copeland).
Losing sounds like an early ’90s record recorded by Steve Albini with shades of Weezer and Sleater-Kinney (this is my wheelhouse). The band sound as if they are playing in your room. When the record really cooks, it does sound like PJ Harvey’s Rid of Me (which was produced by Albini.)
If the record sounds good, then what’s the problem? The main one is with the songwriting in general. They have all the pieces to be really good, but not enough of the numbers fully take form. Take the song “Kills to Be Resistant.” The song starts off with angular riffs reminiscent of early Sleater-Kinney, but the weird hook isn’t enough. Instead the track relies on an up-tempo beat, which is fine, but the chorus isn’t worthy of the song. It doesn’t fully add up.
Another issue with the record is the way they deploy Bognanno’s vocals. She has good dynamics with a lovely clean-sounding voice which can be ramped up into a powerful scream. They have a dilemma, though, in using these tools effectively. This is most apparent on the track “Not the Way.” Here they start with muddy swinging guitar that builds to a chorus that is confounding. They have her clean vocals and screaming battle it out, and it just feels abrasive. I see nothing wrong with a caustic chorus, but this isn’t a good execution of it.
The record isn’t without its highlights. “Blame” does everything right, and it becomes a wonderful song. Built on a simple riff, the song goes into a lovely pre-chorus and nails its laid-back chorus by sprinkling her scream throughout.
Ultimately, Losing is a record of a band that knows how it wants to sound. Once they figure out the equation of songwriting, that will be just right. They’ll be able to put together a thrilling record. This is a stepping stone record where the problems are being worked out.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 riot gurl punk screamssss!
Suggested Tracks: “Blame,” “Feel the Same,” “Either Way”
You can tell Daniel Downing that his opinion sucks on twitter @DeathByZamboni and on Instagram @DeathByZamboni_us
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