Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

the BRMC's most consistent album, containing some of their best songs. if ur new to this band, this is their most accessible album. if ur a BRMC veteran then this represents yet another inventive and redefining album. i saw these guys live in melbourne for their last tour and they were BRILLIANT, despite having problems with equipment and a bout of the flu. The best gig ive seen, made the dandys look uninspired and phony (i saw em a few days ago and couldnt help comparing). enough talk - check it out!

So I was riding shotgun in my friend's car and we were discussing a common subject; music. He started telling me about this new band and wanted to know if I liked it or not. He popped in Baby 81 and after listening to the opening guitar riff on "Took Out a Loan" I had an asnwer: HELL YES! Was my analysis a little premature? Ofcourse. But that opening told me so much about the band and as I explored the rest of the album and their other works I was not dissappointed.

This is the kind of music I've been searching for from some of our contemporary artists with constant dissappointment. There is one word that best describes this album: Rock. I mean just look at the album cover. Is there any other word more fitting?

This is the 4th release from BRMC. If you've not listened to BRMC before this is a great release to hear. You'll also appreciate their first 2 releases. In BABY 81, the group has seasoned and grown their sound. There is less of the scratchy/fuzzy sounds from their first release but the sound is the same and more well rounded. The title cut, BABY 81, rocks strong as does "I took out a loan." These are my 2 favs but you won't find loser track here. I saw this band 2x times in Atlanta before moving to Seattle to work for some ecommerce company out here. I hope I get to see them again.

This is the first album from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club that I've listened to, so I can't give much in the way of commentary as to how this fits in with their development as a band. I can, however, give it a fresh ear, uninfluenced by my feelings, positive or negative, toward their earlier releases.

My conclusions about Baby 81? Well, it's a mixed bag. There are two ways an album came come out to "average": 1.) it can be an album full of average songs or 2.) it can be an album with some great songs and some weak songs. This, I believe, is the latter, and I should note that I feel much of popular music these days is well below average, so "average" is kind of a compliment, coming from me. I came away from listening to this with very mixed feelings. I was pleasantly surprised by some of the highlights of the album ("Berlin" and, most notably, "American X"). The band's sound was a mix of fairly soft, occasionally delicate vocals and nicely done distorted guitar. The best tracks ranged from a dirty rock n' roll sound to atmospheric rock, and these tracks really piqued my interest. But, then, there are the other tracks, where the melodies are uninspired, the songwriting generally forgettable, or the band is just trying a little too hard to sound like U2 (something that never goes over well with me). These tracks are too many to give the album top marks, and I think a slimming down by two or three tracks would have made for a much stronger album overall, shaving off some of the dull spaces in between those tracks that really catch a listener's ear.

So, while I can't say that I was blown away by the album as a whole, I can say that it had some exceptionally good moments that, if nothing else, have increased my interest in hearing some of their other work.

I can't get enough of this album, its incredibly good!!! Honestly, I don't know much about this genre, usually I listen to pop music but this band is soooo so good that I'm making an exception. Its a must have, ppl go ahead and buy it!!!

I like all of their albums, but I love this one. One of my favorite albums from beginning to end by anyone. The music is very layered and full with great instrumentation from mostly acoustic guitars and piano and harmonica. Very soulful and smart from first note to the last.

You know how when you are flipping through the radio stations and hear a song from back in the day and ask yourself, "why don't they make music like this anymore?" Well, BRMC has answered that question with HOWL.

They are an incredibly well-rounded band and true musicians whose sincerity and emotions are evident in every strum of the guitar. I am not a religious man but songs like "devil's waiting" trigger all kinds of emotions deep inside.

For those of you tired of all the emo crap on the radio BRMC is a breath of fresh air and a reminder of what rock and roll is and could be. Cheers!

So this album gained dust as I felt the lost their edge......

Last month it came out again out of just "look here I forgot I had this"

OMG - What an album. Seriously go back and listen, its so well written, its stunning.

This has been so overlooked - I think they also read the instant reviews and went on to do another loud album but they were on the right track with this album - So on track we lost them and have now caught up.

Do a music lover a favor and listen to this again and one more time and I am sure you will hear what I have been hearing the last few months.

sorry BRMC for not working out what you were doing before.

What can you say about these guys. I'll admit it. The first listen threw me for a loop. I thought these guys had lost it. Now this is my favorite album. As far as good songwriters today, you cannot beat them. With all the crap that is popular today, and everybody trying to sound like everybody else to make a buck, BRMC shows their true colors here. Their live show is even better. I've seen them 3 times and the albums can't touch their live show. Listen to the 1st two records again and you can hear them evolving. There was no departure here, just refinement.

This is one of those albums that you need to have in your collection. Probably the best CD i've heard in a while. Can't wait to see these guys live in October!

I came across this band by pure happenstance, and it was one of the best things that could have happened. I was looking for a band to revive my faith in modern-day rock music, a band that dared to make a different sound in today's formulaic music scene,and this truly was exactly what I was looking for. The album starts off strong with "Love Burns", an acoustic based jam for 2 and a half minutes, but then kicks into an all out rock out that will make you test the limits of your speakers. The darker theme continues with "Red Eyes and Tears", if not for the infectious beat and powerful distortion, one may call it a little redundant, but it rocks just the same.

The album hits its peak with "Whatever Happened To My Rock N Roll" and "Awake", a pair of songs different in mood and tempo but standout nonetheless as two songs that showcase the band's artistic gifts. The former is a jam that will make you pump your fist ala Billy Idol, the latter is slower, but has a rocking chorus that will send chills down your spine.

The music slows down on tracks 5-8, more melodic and laid-back. "Rifles" and "White Palms" are the better half of this grouping.

It picks back up for one track, "Spread Your Love", a great classic rock sounding tune. The guitar work in this song seems eerily similar to Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit In The Sky" at some points (maybe that's just me hearing the similarities). This one will get stuck in your head for days if you're not careful, great song.

The last two tracks are forgettable, softer melodies that really seem to lack the melodic part of the equation. These songs are easy to skip if for no other reason than just wanting to listen to earlier tracks again.

All in all, this album is easily worth a purchase. High quality rock music with melodies and choruses that will make this disc a staple of your music library.

Definitely very catchy with some excellent tracks. Very listenable indie style recording, dark in places, energetic in others. I saw these guys live in mid-2007, and it's pretty clear that there's some very heavy voice dubbing on their recordings. Frankly, they sound like Jerry Lewis when they sing live - very high pitched, whiny voices compared to the recordings. They don't have bad voices at all; it's just a bit irksome when you expect one thing and go to a show to hear something vocally pretty different. Instrumentally the show was great and I'm not trying to argue they're bad singers - they just need some testosterone shots or to stop dubbing the recordings so much...

While I like all BRMC releases...this one is still the best.

I bought this album at Jared from Kings Of Leon's insistence, and I was not disappointed. In fact, I came to realize that KOL were no longer my favorite band, it is now BRMC. They are the most amazing collective to ever come out of well, anywhere. My best friend and I love them so much that we're now convinced their albums are "biblical" and listening to them is our form of church. Easily the only band that matters.

This CD is actually quite great in its own right but unfortunately it really does sound too much like Jesus and Mary Chain. To the band's great credit, all of the tracks are strong and 98% of bands out there can't ever achieve that goal. The studio recording is exceedingly well-done too. The signature droning bass can make portable ear-buds distort the bass; so these tunes are best heard on a good soundsystem that can handle the bass.

If you like UK bands like Loveless, Stone Roses and Jeses and MC, you really should give this one a try.

Earlier this year, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club released the excellent "Baby 81" album, going back to the sound of the first two albums and proving that the "Howl" album was a one time diversion, as excellent as that was. As they did with the "Howl" album, the band has released a companion EP to the new album.

"American X: Baby 81 Sessions" (7 audio tracks, 32 min, plus 1 video) brings songs that didn't make it onto the "Baby 81" album, but what a joy these songs are. The opener "The Like of You" is a slasher from the beginning, with threatening drums and bass. "Vision" is just as hard charging. "The Show is About to Begin" is as good as anything on the "Baby 81" album proper. "Whenever You're Ready" is a great bluesy track, and "20 Hours" is about as fine a "ballad" as you'll ever get from BRMC. The last track is the instrumental "Last Chance for Love", an outstanding mood piece and one of my fave tracks on here. The EP is filled out with a video on "American X" from the "Baby 81" album.

At 32 min., this might qualify as a proper album by many bands. As it is, this EP is an excellent companion to the "Baby 81" album, and highly recommended for any BRMC fan.

BRMC are the best of the newer bands around today. So just buy this now if you love rock music that is dark, loud and very very beautiful. This is their second release and as good as anything they have done before or since. All the potential from their first is realized here. Not a bad song on here. Half the record is a complete classic for the genre, the other is just extraordinary. Forget what you have heard about JMAC rip off's, false false false. This band is consistant, talented and are like no one else. Live they are the absolute finest. All the attitude of punk, all the musicianship of classic rock and all the melodies of english pop (stone roses, primal scream , new order et all). I urge you catch this band before they are gone. A must buy!

Great record. One of the best I've heard in the last years. Lots of attitude, lots of great guitars and an overall great sound.Includes some glorious moments like "In like the rose" "Rise or fall" and "Heart and soul". You can tell they worked hard on this one. It's ALMOST perfect because a couple of tracks could be skipped, that's why I give it four stars. If you are looking for a consistent pop-rock album this is what you need. You won't be disappointed.

this is a superb second album from the leather rockers
with the guitars distorted and fuzzy and the vocals clear yet murky ad lyrics expressing love government and pain what more could fellow fans want not much in my opipion this should of been thier first album not their second oh well
highlights include
stop[the bass driven single]
we're all in love
us government
and i'm only aching
suddenly
heart and soul

classic future album from a band who hasn't got the belief they deserve

I love this band and its darkness and the way they deliver the music. They have lot of faded out/fuzzed vocals and the music dial is up. Every song is alive with music and alive with power driven guitar. A lot of people would relate this band to other bands like The Strokes and some other garage bands. I see the relevance, but I don't really like those bands that people would associate BRMC with...I think it's because BRMC offers something different. If you only like pop and soft rock, then don't even waste your money. This is not "nu-metal" (at least i don't consider it to be), this is not "emo" or "screamo". This is not your average mainstream band and I don't think they get the attention they deserve.

Standout tracks for me:
"We're All in Love" 8/10
"In Like The Rose" 9/10
"My Generation" 9/10
"US Government" 9/10 (a lot of people will like the guitar work in here)
"Suddenly" 10/10 (a softer song but well managing of the rock and a melodious song)
"Rise or fall" 9/10 (the vocals and music really hit you)

This being their sophomore effort, BRMC had to have had a lot riding on "Take Them On...". Cutting right to the chase, they surely did not disappoint with this endearing outing. It is filled with much of the same melodramatic poetry and captivating sound that defined them thus far.

The leadoff track and single, "Stop" is not only the best on the cd, it was the track that started it all for me. I quickly immersed myself into the sensuous BRMC world, bought this cd and remain floored since then. Other really great tunes include the roaring "Six Barrel Shotgun", the tranquil "Shade Of Blue", and the epic "Heart + Soul".

Ride on with this cd, you'll be relieved afterwards.

With the rising popularity of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club comes the rising cost of import singles. Now priced at $19.99, this once $7 single packs two songs from the band's early years. "The Weight Is More" is a creeping fuzz guitar peice with repeating snail-like vocals. "Loaded Gun" is a 6+ minute medium tempo groove spearheaded by a pulsatuing distorted bassline, which without it would make this song unmissed. Also included is the video for "Spread Your Love" accessible only for computer use.

For Black Rebel Motorcycle Club collectors this is a must. The sound of these two songs counters the feel of the band's first release (B.R.M.C. - 2001) and offers a good alternative listen to this band's Plan B material.