The Boomerangs’ debut album, Bridle the Gale, is a combination of bluesy rock and alternative country that sounds anything but amateur. The band combines cleverly skillful and synchronized guitar riffs, polished vocals, and solid drumming, which makes it a stand out album.
Formed in 2008, this four-piece Purchase band produces songs with individuality while maintaining a consistent sound.
“Space to Fill” kicks off Bridle the Gale and introduces the listener to The Boomerangs’ mix of vintage southern rock and modern alternative rock. The vocalist’s singing style is similar to contemporary rock bands, while the instrumentals are reminiscent of classic country. The song begins with an interesting and fun guitar riff and the vocals, which come and go, are overpowered by the instrumental aspects.
The second track, “Rosie,” is noticeably different from “Space to Fill.” This is the first song that has a very distinct 12-bar blues rhythm for a good portion of it. The lyrics tell the story of a girl that has disappeared. The singer repeats, “Rosie, where have you gone?” There’s also a guitar solo towards the end that fits in nicely.
“Carry Me” has a very catchy chorus and a wide variety of instrumentals. The track begins with a lead melody played on harmonica that is backed up by guitar, a strong rhythm section, and eventually piano. Although this song has more of a country feel than the others, it will still appeal to fans of rock music.
Unlike the other songs, “Number 12” begins with just acoustic guitar and vocals, and is significantly slower. After about two minutes, the drums come in and the song picks up, but it has an overall calm and serene feeling. It’s a sensitive and emotional love song with a melancholy undertone, and includes lyrics like “You’re cool like the first swim of summer,” and “All the things you need to know, gotta learn, gotta say goodbye.” The lyrics are simple, but the way they are sung effectively portrays sadness.
“I Don’t Know If She Understands Me” is an upbeat song about the confusion of love and romance. Once again, the lyrics are straightforward and the chorus simply repeats the title. The background vocals make the chorus sound stronger and more powerful. It ends with a more complex guitar solo than in the other songs, and the guitarist uses techniques such as bends and hammer-ons. There is also a harmony near the end of the solo that stands out to the listener.
The heaviest track on the album is “Camera’s Watching.” It begins with distorted guitar and sounds much more like southern rock than country. The main guitar riff of the song blends well with the unique rhythm played underneath it. However, the song has little variation.
“Bury Me on Broad Hill” embodies the emotions of moving to a new place and leaving a loved one behind. Lyrics such as, “Home will always be the words I write and the blood I bleed,” and “I picture her on a double bed, there’s a phone between the pillow and her head, and she’s smiling,” convey these feelings to the listener. The build-ups and pauses in the song really dramatize these emotions.
An anthem of romantic anguish and frustration, the lyrics in “Break Your Fall” relate the experience of finally giving up on someone that has repeatedly hurt you in the past. The lyrics of the chorus, “I won’t break your fall,” sum up the track’s overall meaning. Instrumentally, this song stands out because there are sudden tempo changes at different points. The verse is played at a relatively fast tempo, then the bridge goes to a half-time tempo, and then the chorus is slow and calm, with only guitar and vocals.
The final track, “Tell Me More,” begins with a slow drumbeat that sets the tempo for the song. Once again, there is a slow vocal melody with guitar chords played underneath. The background chords give the song a relaxing, pleasant feel. Although this is one of the slower songs on the album, the chorus has a rock-like edge.
The Boomerangs’ first effort, Bridle the Gale, represents an array of emotions and contains musical diversity and cleverness. The album is filled with anthems of love and frustration amongst other things, and is brimming with catchy guitar riffs that are sure to stick in the listener’s head.
Bridle the Gale is available for download on iTunes at boomerangsband.com.
Comments
Post new comment