Time Won't Save Our Souls...

Howl
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Red Ink/RCA

After Stacy's glowing recommendation of this album as her #1 pick of 2005, I decided it was high time I took her at her word and check it out myself. Stacy was not mistaken, this album is great! I'm afraid I still wouldn't have put it at #1 for last year, but I definitely think it was high in the Top 10.

What does it sound like? That's a difficult question, as each song is so unique. I think the closest album I can think of to this sound, however, would have to be Beck's Americana exploration on Sea Change. Let me tell you, from me, that is high praise, as I adore that album. It is similar, though, in that its songs wax and wane from complex Indie Rock-esque compositions to stripped-down, howling Blues and traditional tunes. I think this album goes to more extremes than Beck's though, and often dips into some Wilco-like abstraction.

Actually, that might explain Stacy's recent Wilco breakthrough! Stacy, what do you think? Did BRMC help you out there?

Anyway, here's a quick breakdown of some of the best songs on the album:

* Shuffle Your Feet -- Slightly Ballad of John and Yoko Beatlesque fair, with more twang, yet somehow much darker, and with a spooky choir chorus reminiscent of something from the 70s that I can't put my finger on. "Ti-i-i-i-me, won't save our souls..." The circa 50s electric guitar licks in the middle remind me of some of the electric work Gillian Welch and David Rawlings did and then repeated with Ryan Adams on Heartbreaker -- vaguely Rebel Without A Cause type stuff.

* Howl - Starts with deep drawling, mumbling lyrics over a droning Hammond organ, reminds me of the Manchester sound from the 90s -- the Stone Roses, Charlatans UK, and the Smiths. Not the least bit twangy, I'm guessing this is more what the B.R.M.C. used to sound like -- edgy, British-infused, emo-pop stuff, but good.

* Ain't No Easy Way - This song's chock full with a foot-stompin' twangy acoustic Blues guitar, with just a hint of a Steven Tyler badness in the lyrics. (Yeah, I know, but it works, I swear.) This is a 3am dirty living room jam after the show for the payin' folks is done. It's time for the real music to be made. I bet if you listen close you can hear the Jack bottles roll in the floor.

* Weight of the World -- The obvious radio single for this album, it's very Indie Rock -- dark, but with a catchy hook. "It's the weight of the world, I know... " This song, I admit, was an early favorite. (I like hooky songs! Leave me be!)

* Restless Sinner - Black Soul Choir crossed with Gillian Welch spooky. Oh yeah. This song could have easily fit on my Haunted by American Dreams playlist from last Halloween. No question. One of the best on the albums. This song would've made Jack White very proud, if he'd written it. (Wait for the chorus at the end... gives me chills! Think just a tad like some white guys trying to be the Fairfield Four... still good, though.)

* Complicated Situation - The rambling guitar, Tweedy-esque lyrics, and harsh harmonica reminds me a lot of Uncle Tupelo's "Screen Door." One of my only complaints of the album -- for a "complicated situation," these lyrics are a tad too repetitive. But like I said, it's the only complaint...

* Steal A Ride - The bonus track if you buy from iTunes, this is another James-Dean-movie-sounding track, even more than Shuffle Your Feet. Racin' stolen cars in a post-modern rockabilly style? -- check!

So to summarize, this album is all over the place. Overall it has a dark texture, reminiscent of the Love & Rockets and Jesus & Mary Chain influences this band is so well known for, but you can definitely hear some T Bone Burnett influence throughout, with echos of Appalachian, country, and rockabilly.

To avoid all the stupid DRM on their CDs, I recommend you deal with the sane, albeit still not very fun DRM from iTunes. At least it won't crash your computer or install spyware. Despite all that, I recommend you get it. I'm enjoying the hell out of this album, and I regret not getting it earlier.