Customer Reviews

Stairs & Elevators

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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?

Of the 96 albums I've rated that were released in 2005, this is #4 on my list. It baffles me that reviewers are not picking up this record. Pitchfork has not reviewed it, I haven't seen anything in Spin, there is no rating available on Metacritic. Why? I feel bad that so many people are missing out. I've had this album since it came out in the spring and it's held my attention ever since. A truly great rock band! Thanks to Rolling Stone for doing a story on this band, reviewing their album, and adding it to your best new music list. You might want to publish a reminder to everyone who wasn't listening the first time.

how do i give 10 stars? best album of 2005 by a wide margin. most of it has been said in other reviews so i'll just agree wholeheartedly, heartless bastards are here to stay and they will rock your face off.

It's been years since I've been caught by surprise by the brilliance of music, but Heartless Bastards did just that. I knew I had to have the CD Mid-way through the first song "Gray". The band's name was enough to intrigue me into giving it a listen at the local record store, but they are so much more than a cool band name.

If their is any justice in this world, Erika Wennerstrom will be known as one of the great voices in Rock of all time. She, like Janis Joplin, was put on this world to wail like none before her, and her band mates generate a power garage sound rivaling the power of Cream, but closer to the White Stripes.

Wennerstrom's voice and lyrics are what sets these tracks on fire. I'm excited to listen to this album again tommorow, and even more excited at the possiblility of seeing these guys play.

The album is solid from start to finish, the songs are not repetitive clones of each other and there is no weak link to the album. The song "Gray" will not leave my head, but don't cheat yourself and only focus on it's 3 minutes of brilliance, buy the whole album and appreciate it. In a world of music dominated sucky FM Radio Rock their is hope....Heartless Bastards just might save us all.

OMG I first saw these guys live in 2007. They have been my favorite "local" band ever since! Their blues song, it just hits me and I can close my eyes and the song just takes over and fills my soul. They have that kind of sound. If you enjoy bluesy rock, you should check them out! "Old" is my all time favorite of theirs!

I recently saw this band at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. It was one of those deals where I had never heard of them but was near the stage when they started and figured I'd check them out, then move on. I never moved on. Powerful vocals and guitar backed by a solid rhythm section. You'll like it.

The Ramones meet Led Zeppelin. Erika can sound like she wants to break your neck one moment, then be your best friend at another. Rock solid rhythym section. This CD will get regular play on your sound system.

These guys are great in a really cool understated way, without beating me over the head with their "unique" sound (see: the White Stripes). Without having to reinvent the wheel they make good rock music that doesn't sound like anybody else, not easy thing to do these days.