Customer Reviews

...And the Battle Begun

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Last century, the third wave of ska revival skanked up the airwaves somethin' mighty boss for awhile before fading back into obscurity. Most people forgot, but as recently as 2003, Ted Leo and his Pharmacists asked, "Where have all the rude boys gone?"

They're around. These days, though, you just have to strain to hear the transmission. With Rx Bandits' fifth album proper, the message is delivered with decidedly fewer decibels than 2003's hard rock-threaded "The Resignation," but "...And the Battle Begun" ups the clarity with some of the most potent lyrics ever from this band.

"Epoxi-lips" decompresses out of the speakers with a drum hit dowsed with reverb heard only in the deepest depths of dub reggae, and a sly guitar/keyboard duet paves the way for Matt Embree's vocals. The chorus suggests "Resignation"-era b-side material-- not a bad thing at all-- in contrast with the majority of "...And the Battle Begun," which plays a bit like an evolved "Progress" (2001), taught to walk upright. There's less outright guitar crunch and more playfulness and interplay between the instruments here. Complex rhythms and concepts abound.

Intricate and nuanced performance is the name of the game with the Bandits and their craft. Hard-hitting political tirades trade punches with tales of soured romance, and a bit of creative overlap between the two occurs. Embree's soaring croon imbues "Only For the Night" and "A Mouth Full of Hollow Threats," already striking for their eclecticism and instrumental detail, with a sense of passion nearly unheard of in modern popular music. Elsewhere, he harmonizes with himself in a repeating a capella melodic motif ("Untitled") that crops up throughout "the Battle Begun": "It's over / I must have seen her face before / I fell in love when I was born / Now they hide her with a whisper / It's over." It becomes ambiguous whether the lovers are people, countries, or both.

Although theirs is music based on decidedly culture-born Jamaican ska and reggae, the Rx Bandits synthesize a sound all their own, one which is nationless yet patriotic at the same time, full of soul and passion, firing warning shots across the bows of armadas of popular opinion such as music fans and politicians. Defiantly creative music like this doesn't get put to tape very often. Don't be afraid to get your war on, and explore the rewarding back catalog of the Bandits.

Those damn bandits have managed to push the envelope even further, and set the bar higher for their music. While The Resignation focused more on hard rock and reggae, this release incorporates both and liberally intersperses jazz elements throughout the record. With less heavy tracks, less crunching guitar, and more of a focus on the brass and Embree's vocals, the band manages to build even better upon their signature style. The horns are better than ever. Guitars are flawless, and the band shows an astounding level of maturity. These guys just get better and better.

For previous Rx Bandits fans: This is the somehow even more ambitious follow up to Resignation. I don't need to tell you what they're capable of, and there are moments when they are completely on target with their delivery. Then again there are moments that I still haven't caught up to yet, which makes me wonder if maybe they just missed the mark all together. Probably not, won't know for a few listens I guess. This is the album I was waiting for from them, at this point I think it's successful, and you should buy it.

For newcomers: First of all, welcome and do not be scared, though after a first listen you may be. There is just an incredible amount of music to digest with this album- for better or worse. I recommend listening to The Resignation prior as it is entirely more accessable; completely dancable reggae/rock music with a decidedly progressive edge. That's not to say that ATBB will turn you off to the Bandits, just this band has clearly matured on this album, and you'd want to learn a bit about their breakthrough album before you pass judgement on this one. Enjoy, and hopefully you will find the Bandits as refreshing as I have.

I recommend In Her Drawer, Apparition, and A Mouth Full of Hollow Threats?, with the latter 2 intended for newbs especially.

I am very happy with the purchase. I received the merchandise in time for Christmas and in very good condition. The recipient was very happy.

Buy this album. It may take you one or two listens, but it's their best.

The next installment in the evolution of the Rx Bandits is well worth the buy. Like most music that is entirely original, a few listens may be necessary to appreciate the worth of this album. Approximately my sixth or seventh time listening to the album from start to finish is when I realized its importance. For anyone who knows the Rx Bandits, this is a must buy. For anyone who is not familiar with them, check out their website and you'll find a few mp3's and videos that are worth taking a look at.

I had low expectations for this album, mainly due to the fact that 'the Resignation' was such an amazing and heartfelt album, and I was sure that the Rx Bandits would never be able to top it. I was expecting a change in directions, possibly with a new focus on commercialism, since this band really could become something huge with such writing ability. I was absolutely sure I was going to see the Bandits dumb down the music for the radio, and abandon the thoughtful genius that makes this band so unique. Of course, my worries were completely unwarranted, '...And the Battle Begun' is definately one of the finest slabs of music to be released in 2006.

The only prediction of mine that came true about this album is the shift in focus; but rather than in a more commercial direction, the Bandits, to my extreme delight, actually throw a whole lot more into the mix this time around. While 'the Resignation' was based around emotionally charged and intelligent, straight-forward rock songs, '...And the Battle Begun' puts a huge emphasis on the brass section. While the brass was used only moderately in previous albums for flavoring, we find it right in front of the mix on this one, driving the tracks in a couple of occasions. There is also a whole lot more focus on experimentation, shifts, and all the great little things that make good music. There is never a lack of variety, intelligence, nor raw emotion in the Bandit's latest release.

While some would expect such a shift in focus to maybe take away from the plain catchiness and power of 'The Resignation', I assure you all that the 'Bandit vibe' is still very active. This is simply another stage in the Bandit's evolution, and not to my dissapointment at all. Very intelligent and interesting, '...And the Battle Begun' is so much more than I ever expected it to be, and I assure Bandit fans that this is by no means a dissapointment.

So I'm the first person that would jump on the "sold out from ska" train, but, seriously, these guys are ridiculous. No one in the world is like them. Enough has been said about the amazing musicianship, but no one has really commented on the concept of the album itself. The lyrics, along with the cover art, is extremely thought provoking and probing. The entire album is very artfully presented in a way that only these guys are able...they have come a long way from "those damn bandits"...

Rx Bandits have really racheted it up a notch with this album. It was recorded live and is beyond fantastic. Please go to their website and check them out. I'm at a loss for words to even describe how absolutely amazing "And the Battle Begun" sounds. Watch the video on the website for "In Her Drawer"...remarkable song, from the best band out there right now.

I must say this band has me at a loss for words. This album is great in every sense of the word. Amazon needs to put up samples. People need to hear this cd, go to their myspace and listen to their samples. If you like buy this cd. It's one of my favorites.