Yeah British Sea Power’s new album Do You Like Rock Music? is pretty much BA. As in Bad @ss. Their third full-length has been getting constant play everyday since released a couple of weeks ago. I think BSP is literally the best name in music today (behind Depeche Mode of course) plus lead singer Yan is one of my favorite voices ever. The sweeping epic sounds contained within fierce guitars and volatile vocals are back. While at times their second album was unlistenable, lets not make the mistake of saying this one is better than their first classic The Decline of British Sea Power just yet. There is potential in the lasting power of the new one. I still listen to that first album once a month.
Lyrics still have undertones of an anarchic and prophetically bleak future, plus some homoerotic themes are thrown in for good measure. What’s great about the album when you listen to it, is that the songs transition smoothly as lets say ‘Men Together Today’ to ‘Apologies to Insect Life’ on The Decline of BSP. The same instance and effect occurs on Do You Like Rock Music?. When listening to the first single ‘Waving Flags’, all of the ‘ohs and ahhs’ make you want to just pack up and escape from this cold Northeastern hell. It really takes you to orgasmic new heights. ha! ‘The Great Skua’ a melodic and instrumental tune seems torn right out of pages Explosions in the Sky or Godspeed You Black Emperor (who have officially broken up by the way). ‘Down on the Ground’ and ‘A Trip Out’ kind of will bore you at the beginning with the everyday blues/rock, shuffling boogie riffs. This could eventually be the favorite and best album of the year, though the simple line-drawing artwork from the previous albums should have been kept.
‘Waving Flags’ is pretty much going to be the pre-drinking song for us down in Austin for SXSW, where BSP will be making multiple appearances. I’m really feeling these great lines.
Go see their live show and you’ll experience the energy.
“You are astronomical, fans of alcohol, so welcome in” …
“Are you of legal drinking age? on minimum wage? well welcome in”
[MP3]: British Sea Power “Waving Flags”
BRITISH SEA POWER U.S. Tour Dates
Feb 25 San Diego, CA @ Casbah (Colourmusic supports)
Feb 27 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo (Colourmusic supports)
Feb 28 Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland (Colourmusic supports)
Feb 29 Visalia, CA @ Cellar Door (Colourmusic supports)Mar 01 San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill (NoisePop) (Colourmusic supports)
Mar 03 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir (Colourmusic supports)
Mar 04 Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s (Colourmusic supports)
Mar 05 Vancouver, BC @ Plaza Club (Colourmusic supports)
Mar 08 Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive (Colourmusic supports)
Mar 12 New York NY @ Late Show w/David Letterman
Mar 13-16 Austin TX @ SxSW
Mar 19 Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room (Colourmusic supports)
Mar 20 Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews (Colourmusic supports)
Mar 21 Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock (Colourmusic supports)
Mar 22 Urbana, IL @ Canopy Club (1900’s support)
Mar 24 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle (1900’s support) [Early and Late Show ****]
Mar 25 Pontiac, MI @ Eagle Theatre (1900’s support)
Mar 26 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop (1900’s support)
Mar 27 Columbus, OH @ The Basement (1900’s support)
Mar 28 Louisville, KY @ Phoenix Hill Tavern (1900’s support)
Mar 29 St. Louis, MO @ Billiken Club (1900’s support)Apr 11 Dallas, TX @ The Loft (Film School support)
Apr 12 Austin, TX @ Club Deville (Film School support)
Apr 13 Houston, TX @ Numbers (Film School support)
Apr 15 Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon (Film School support)
Apr 16 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
Apr 17 Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder - Florida State University (Film School support)
Apr 18 Orlando, FL @ The Social (Film School support)
Apr 19 Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits (Film School support)
Apr 20 Mount Pleasant, SC @ CANCELLED
Apr 21 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl (Film School support)
Apr 22 Birmingham, AB @ Bottletree (Film School support)
Apr 23 Memphis, TN @ Hi Tone (Film School support)
Apr 26 Norman, OK @ Norman Music Festival w/The Polyphonic SpreeMay 1 Columbia, MO @ Mojo’s (Rosebuds support)
May 2 Oxford, MS @ Proud Larry’s (Rosebuds support)
May 3 Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge (Rosebuds support)
May 4 Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle (Rosebuds support)
May 6 Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle (Rosebuds support)
May 7 Charlottesville, VA @ Satelite Ballroom (Rosebuds support)
May 8 Washington, DC @ Black Cat (Rosebuds support)
May 9 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s (Rosebuds support)
May 10 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom (Rosebuds support)
May 11 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg (Rosebuds support)
May 13 Boston, MA @ Paradise (Rosebuds support)
May 15 Montreal, QUE @ La Sala Rossa (Rosebuds support)
May 16 Toronto, ONT @ Lee’s Palace (Rosebuds support)
May 17 Buffalo, NY @ The Tralf (Rosebuds support)
May 18 Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theatre (Rosebuds support)