Bo-Peep "Sick Orange Television" (Domestic / iTunes) The official site Bo-Peep http://bo-peep3.com/ check 'em? -->My Space / iTunes previous works  "is it good for you?!! " (Domestic / iTunes) Previous works check the albums? |
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Bo Peep's new album Sick Orange Television picks up the noise rock momentum from where last year's Is It Good For You?!! left off. It won't win any awards for it's insightful lyrical content, but that isn't the point. The eight songs on this album are all about riding the wave of staccato guitars, no frills bass, and urgent cymbal crashes. Forget about lyrics and think Sonic Youth after one too many genki drink cocktails (mmmm...vodka with junker). I've seen Bo-Peep live, the last time being their early morning show (or late night, which ever way you look at it) at the Fuji Rock Festival 2007 Rookie-A-Go-Go stage. An inspired, if sloppy, set that was all rock and roll abandon. These three gals from Fukuoka started off with a bang and went out with a kick drum (literally), all the while seemingly wasted. And if there is one thing I like, it's wasted girls playing guitar. You couldn't tear me from the stage. It's hard to capture that on a recording, and so for bands like Bo-Peep, hearing them on record (or digital media...whatever...) and seeing them live are two completely different things. In Bo-Peep's case, their recordings are more of a reminder to get out and see them do what they do best - which is rock out. Regardless, Sick Orange Television is not a bad album. It highlights an honest rock and roll effort from a band just starting to find their true groove. More confident and less self-indulgent than their previous efforts, SOT is straight ahead rock. The first two tracks, "3" and "Pit In Town" are fairly typical of Bo-Peep's charge-through-the-song work ethic. When they get to "Spiral Revolution", they seem to find their stride, relaxing into the chord progressions rather than punching them through the monitors. At this point the album becomes a little more melodic, a little less rushed and allows front woman Mika Yoshimura to find more balance between her guitar fills and vocal duties before she runs headlong into the next track, "Go!". New bassist Arie Yoshinori seems to bring a little more - well, bass - to the party than original member Junko Himei did, attacking more of the neck and giving the rhythm section a little extra punch and sophistication. This is really noticeable on the re-worked "Full Time" that originally appeared on their first full length Time of Rock. The last real song, "Dancing, The People", stands out as a bouncy, head bobbing number that invokes an involuntary air performance of whatever instrument takes your fancy. Easy repetitive chorus that's not filled with tongue twisting verses make this an infectious and accessible track. It should prove to be a good live song for their repertoire. The closing instrumental track, "Another World" plays with samples and loops held together by Ryoko Nakano's simple and straightforward drumming. A sort of ambient, alt-rock closer that seems a little out of place without a similar bookend at the beginning, but what the hell. All in all, Sick Orange Television is nothing new or revolutionary or blogosphere indie darling you - gotta - know - who - this - band - is - or -we'll - flame - you - with - comments quirky. It's honest to goodness rock music - the kind that gets you cranking the car speakers 'til they're fuzzy. It's slap-the-dash, drinking-and-driving, pass - me - another - beer - and - get - me - to - the - fuckin - Rock - Show - quick Friday night music. That ain't no time to be talking politics, and this record ain't out to solve the worlds problems. Bo-Peep's new album is pretty much about rockin' out - and that it does solidly. reviewed by jeff
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