Stairs & Elevators

Heartless Bastards | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 22, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fat Possum Records
• ASIN: B00070FU7G
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #52,443 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #67 in Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk > Garage Punk

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars refreshing, July 11, 2005

By 

Phillip Kerman (West Linn, OR USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stairs & Elevators (Audio CD)

It's really refreshing to hear a band as original as Heartless Bastards. I was beginning to think that I must be getting old because I kept saying "rock is dead; the bands these days suck; not like the old days" (what 10-20 years ago?) Everything seemed so stale and uninspiring. I really started to believe none of the new stuff was any good. Not this album. Heartless Bastards is definitely the first band in a number of years that I find so lively.

It's really hard to list other bands "like" them, and really, it seems like a disservice. When reading reviews I always want to know if the reviewer has similar taste to mine... so, these are bands at the top of my personal rock collection in the same genre (remember I'm not saying these sound like HB): ac/dc; led-zep; bad brains; ramones; talking heads; fugazi; gang of four; stooges; joy division; morphine; pj harvey; pixies; rage against the machine; rocket from the crypt; sonic youth; cramps. Sort of a short list really...

Check out the interview at pbs.org; I think it really adds to the flavor of the band. In any event, this review may not clear up whether or not you'll like this album... but I hope it encourages you to give this band a good listen. I predict that if ever a band can get big by being truly original (not by being commercialized or on MTV or whatever) then this band will really last.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow..., April 19, 2005

By 

L. Scott - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stairs & Elevators (Audio CD)

This album is wonderful in so many different reasons, but I think what really sets Heartless Bastards apart from everyone else is Erika Wennerstrom's incredible voice. It is powerful and loud, yet not annoyinly so, deep, melodic, wailing, raw, and unlike anything I have ever heard. Not only is the singing wonderful, drums and guitar are also played superbly, producing a sound somewhat akin to the White Stripes.

I don't think that there is one weak song in the whole 43 minutes of music, but my personal favorites are Runnin, a powerful 5 minute ballad, Pass and Fail (irresistibly catchy and energetic) and Swamp Song.

Don't let yourself miss out on listening to this superb album and hearing the voice of the decade. If mainstream rock these days is pollution, Heartless Bastards are a breath of fresh air.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly great rock n' roll., June 23, 2005

By 

A. C. Hall - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stairs & Elevators (Audio CD)

I gotta keep it short and honest. Great rock. I admit to having heard them on NPR, but, since I bought the CD the same day, I've introduced them to about 5 different friends (with hugely varied musical backgrounds and tastes)--and they all love it. If you like Mark Lanegan (lead of Screaming Trees), you'll love Erika--her voice is indeed "raw," and her lyrics are really, really good. Throw together in a pot: the sensual feel of Led Zep, the soul of Janis (but not as over done), the charm of Tom Waits, the lyricism of Bruce Springsteen, the rock sensibility of Tom Petty, and, well...a can of PBR--and you have (drumroll please) a hint of what the Heartless Bastards are...
The instrumentation is also really, really good. Give it a listen. If you make it past the first or third songs without having to own it, I'm sorry--that's all I can really say about it.
Besides...the "Heartless Bastards"? How can the band name alone not bring about a certain affinity?