Brand New Friend - Seatbelt's for airplanes
Brand New Friend - Seatbelt's for Airplanes
The North coast of Ireland has been famed for its ability to produce high-quality musical talent. Yes, you read that correctly. No, I am not being serious. In fact, shallow a boast that it may be, bubbly four piece Brand New Friend (BNF) might be the best band to emerge from that area of the country EVER. Make of that hot take what you will.
Arriving on the scene in 2016, their debut album Seatbelt’s for Airplanes hit the internet this past month, and I must admit it’s surprised me. Usually, when a local band makes their debut, they have two routes: Punk rock or Folk. BNF have elected to do neither and delivered an addictively vibrant and energetic bubblegum pop album that is as far a cry from the local punk as imaginable and is better than most of it. Love or hate them, that move took cajones and they did a fairly impressive job.
Proving themselves to be the spatial successors of the likes of ASH and Snow Patrol, Seatbelt’s for Airplanes has a distinct lack of arrogance. The band exults an undeniable affinity and love for the music they're performing. Take the reggae-influenced Milk Chews with its emphasis on percussion and funky riffs. A drum led song is difficult at the best of times, but the Castlerock group pull it off with a polished ease. Further along the album comes the expected breakup song The Blame (every band needs a good breakup song these days. Its in the musical bible, in the Gospel according to Swift, right next to the passage about how The Beatles are dying in the wrong order) which sees the youngsters demonstrate a vulnerability that usually only comes with age. Rejecting cliches, BNF instead uses weighty riffs, modern keys and gruff vocals on arguably the albums strongest song.
While there is plenty to get excited about, I do have some gripes. While an enjoyable and promising debut, I couldn't help but be aware of the fairly basic lyrics and composition (bar the songs mention and the exceptionally witty titular track). That is not to say that they were simple, as simple is accessible and entertaining, but they were basic in that there was not much imagination or variety present. This is not exactly for such a young band, especially on their debut, but it begs the question as to whether the band are more comfortable playing it safe and sound and, if this is the case, too what their ceiling is. It is unfair to expect the first album to reinvent the wheel, but the talent is very obviously THERE. You can hear it in small bursts throughout the album, often right on the tip of the band's collective proverbial tongue, which makes it all the more frustrating when they don't deliver. Rather than discourage me, however, I am eager and hungry to see what else they can do. Brand New Friend has thrown down the gauntlet. Now, let us see if they are up to the challenge.
The North coast of Ireland has been famed for its ability to produce high-quality musical talent. Yes, you read that correctly. No, I am not being serious. In fact, shallow a boast that it may be, bubbly four piece Brand New Friend (BNF) might be the best band to emerge from that area of the country EVER. Make of that hot take what you will.
Arriving on the scene in 2016, their debut album Seatbelt’s for Airplanes hit the internet this past month, and I must admit it’s surprised me. Usually, when a local band makes their debut, they have two routes: Punk rock or Folk. BNF have elected to do neither and delivered an addictively vibrant and energetic bubblegum pop album that is as far a cry from the local punk as imaginable and is better than most of it. Love or hate them, that move took cajones and they did a fairly impressive job.
Proving themselves to be the spatial successors of the likes of ASH and Snow Patrol, Seatbelt’s for Airplanes has a distinct lack of arrogance. The band exults an undeniable affinity and love for the music they're performing. Take the reggae-influenced Milk Chews with its emphasis on percussion and funky riffs. A drum led song is difficult at the best of times, but the Castlerock group pull it off with a polished ease. Further along the album comes the expected breakup song The Blame (every band needs a good breakup song these days. Its in the musical bible, in the Gospel according to Swift, right next to the passage about how The Beatles are dying in the wrong order) which sees the youngsters demonstrate a vulnerability that usually only comes with age. Rejecting cliches, BNF instead uses weighty riffs, modern keys and gruff vocals on arguably the albums strongest song.
While there is plenty to get excited about, I do have some gripes. While an enjoyable and promising debut, I couldn't help but be aware of the fairly basic lyrics and composition (bar the songs mention and the exceptionally witty titular track). That is not to say that they were simple, as simple is accessible and entertaining, but they were basic in that there was not much imagination or variety present. This is not exactly for such a young band, especially on their debut, but it begs the question as to whether the band are more comfortable playing it safe and sound and, if this is the case, too what their ceiling is. It is unfair to expect the first album to reinvent the wheel, but the talent is very obviously THERE. You can hear it in small bursts throughout the album, often right on the tip of the band's collective proverbial tongue, which makes it all the more frustrating when they don't deliver. Rather than discourage me, however, I am eager and hungry to see what else they can do. Brand New Friend has thrown down the gauntlet. Now, let us see if they are up to the challenge.
Comments
Post a Comment