Customer Reviews

Young Machetes

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4 star:		(5)
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These Blood Brothers just continue to keep me coming back for more. "Burn Piano Island, Burn" made me a fan, and "Crimes" was a thoroughly interesting listen, but with "Young Machetes" the band may have finally combined all the elements of their sound into one completely unique package. Sure "Young Machetes" brings back a lot of the abrasiveness of "Burn...", but it also pulls a lot from its more experimental counterpart, "Crimes." I believe that Wheelchair Assassin gave the best explanation of the Blood Brothers sound I've ever heard with this statement:

"Gang of Four meets the Dillinger Escape Plan meets the Pixies meets the Mars Volta... with helium!"

One who is unaccustomed to the unique brand of rock that the Blood Brothers play may be turned off upon first listen. The vocals are extremely shrill, the music is often times frantic and off key, and there's virtually no basic structure to any of the songs. Oh and it's noisy. Doesn't sound like a recipe for easy listening does it? However what the Blood Brothers lack in immediate like-ability, they completely make up for in playback value. I can't remember ever being bored with any Blood Bros record so far. And "Young Machetes" does a fine job of following that standard.

"Set Fire To The Face On Fire" and "Vital Beach" sound just like vintage Blood Bros circa their "Burn.." era, while experimental numbers like "Street Wars/Exotic Foxholes" and "1,2,3,4 Guitars" sound like they could have easily fit in with the last record. However don't most listeners want something relatively new with each listen? With that, The Blood Brothers don't disappoint. "Rat Rider", "Laser Life", "Nausea Shreds Yr Head" and "You're The Dream Unicorn!" all do a fine job of demonstrating exactly the kind of mash-up sound the band seems to have been going for on this record. Plenty of fury combined with thoughtful bits of melody and cohesiveness. Sounds like a perfect combination to me! Instrumentally the Bros continue to be both unique and talented, and everything from their shattering guitar riffs to their angular drumming is still perfectly in tact. They continue to be extremely creative musicians in the field. Just listen to any song on this record.

More or less if you've enjoyed any of the band's previous output, "Young Machetes" is probably going to be a well received album for your collection. While it's not some glorious "Burn Piano Island, Burn" meets "Crimes" mash-up, it does a great job of combining previous elements of their sound and still expanding it miles it opposite directions. It's best to be familiar with their sound before diving into this one. Otherwise you might end up wondering just what you've gotten yourself into.... Don't be surprised if you like it though.

I got to see the Blood Brothers when they toured with ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead this past year, and I must say, their live show is pretty awesome/terrifying/intense/inspiring/LOUD. Whatever their show was, it compelled me to check out the band's records.

I chose "Young Machetes" simply because it has "Set Fire To The Face On Fire" on it, which was their set opener, and it fried my face off (literally, I have no face anymore). It impressively does the same on record too, no small achievement. The rest of the record really impressed me as well - the band shows a lot of diversity, not just relying on screeching noise, but also experimenting with a very large assortment of different sounds.

The inherant problem with a band like the Blood Brothers is that the noise can be somewhat exhausting to listen to. It's not a record that you can throw on every day, but when that certain mood strikes you, nothing fits like Young Machetes.

Even at their most exhausting, the Blood Brothers are a million times more interesting than most other bands in any genre right now. Any fans of either eardrum blasting, anti-everything rock or just plain creative, unique music would highly suit themselves to give this record a listen.

The Blood Brothers sure were a good band, and I can't imagine what the people who have been with them the whole way thought of their break up. Here, on their last album, they don't go out with a whimper. It's easily one of their most concise, not as experimental as Crimes, yet more rapid fire and spastic than Crimes. I think they really have found a really good blend of all of what they were doing before. Sure, this doesn't replace all of their albums-there all special in their own ways-but this album really is a great blend of their styles.

The band has stated that six of these songs harken back to their own style, being more crazy and loud. While that may scream "special ed kids imitading at the drive in" to those who (such as I) despised much of their earlier junk, this is not the case. Finely tuned songwriting abounds, considering if the crazy songs are like Your The Dream Unicorn! and Rat Rider. And dang, no aimless rendering either. They never explode into random passages of jumbled beats and aimless screaming like they tended to do earlier.

Actually, there are lot's of experimentation, although it's not as noticeable. Songs like Street Wars/Exotic Foxholes show this, as it's some kind of hip hop disco song with a coda into some ambiance complete with an upright bass, floating organs, Timpanis (!) windchime guitars and a cello/clarinet (can't really tell), and Spit Shine Your Black Clouds, a song that stomps out with extreme catchiness, and gets more windy and weird from there. Even then, everything has experimentation with success, even the most hectic. It simply has new sounds everywhere no matter what kind of songs they are doing.

Some highlights:

*Your The Dream Unicorn!-Allmusic guide stated that this song starts out like a twisted noise punk version of "I Want Candy", and it does when you pick it up (how cool is that? And I hate that song!)! From there, it goes into pure noise rock and even a section that could be referred to as noise dream pop. All in two minutes!
*Laser Life-Retro keyboards and a cool pop vibe that you can dance to soon explode into another screaming breakdown with busy keyboards in the back. Awesome!
*Huge Gold AK-Man, this one is a total blast, with lyrics about tying up waterfalls in the trunk and starving summer suns in black basements. The jumbled beat while they scream "we take what the _______ we want!" is total bliss.
*Set Fire To The Face on Fire-The fearsome opener is as harsh a flaming wall of fire. Johnny Whitney's screams are easily one of the most bloodcurdling of all of the screams he has done.
*Vital Beach-Totally off the wall and energetic, the ending will have you neck moving like a bobblehead.

Their most catharic song, and the last song they ever did, is saved for last. Giant Swan, while may not be their best song (and mostly just good), is their longest song ever, and it folds out like a cabaret play. It starts out dank in the music (you can almost smell the leftover smoke), then it builds up and crashes, like some dying life. When they sing about the curtains closing, you have to wonder if they were referencing themselves. When it stops, it gives the image of a closed curtain, and the curtain of the career of the band.

Young Machetes is their highest scoring album, though I'm not sure you can call it their peek, since many of their albums are fearless, as you need them all! While your at it, give it March On Electric Children a listen to, as it's not as bad as I used to make it out to be. Either way, this is a band that really sounds good to my ears, especially in a genre that can be as annoying and boring as hardcore (probably because they don't color within the lines with any genre, which is a good thing). Check this band out and don't let this band go the way of Nick Drake.

I first caught hold of this band on a music blog site and I was amazed. The riffs and the beats will grab at you and you're guaranteed to find the need to bang your head. It might take you a bit of time getting used to if you aren't really into the more punk music, but its well worth the wait.

At first what you will hear is fast songs with banchee cries. But after listening to the lyrics and not just screaming to them, I found that these songs are actually pretty heavy. Honestly, the lyrics are just like "woah."

This is a great pick. And hey kids, if you care to annoy your parents grab this and let it blare. They will scream "Get headphones or get better music" and what could be better. Anarchy!

The reviewer a few down mentioned Young Machetes being to "tame" compared to Blodd Brothers earlier stuff, and i totally agree, but that's not to say it still isn't good. I miss the old stuff like March On Electric Children, This Audultry is Ripe, and even their EP (which was a crazy mess, but a great mess) but thats not to say that this isn't Blood Brothers Anymore. Some songs on here bring you back to the older days such You're The Dream Unicorn, Rat Rider, and Nausea Shreds Your Head. But about 2/3 of the album is more of a catchy softer(in relation to old BB) soud that is easy to like on the first listen.
For anyone who has not listened to the Blood Brothers and are thinking of getting into them, get this cd or crimes first. Download these songs from this cd first:
-We Ride Skeletal Lightning
-Lazer Life
-Camouflage, Camouflage
-Spit shine Your Black Cluds
-and Lift The Viel, Kiss The Tank.

this is one of my favorite BB albums, despite the change from their older albums. If you like blood brothers I reccomend hearing these bands: Soiled Doves, Neon Blonde, Head Wound City, and The Plot To Blow Up The Eiffel Tower.

Why am I just reviewing this thing, I bought it the day it came out? Anyway, I got so happy when I slipped this cd in and Set Fire.. blasted through my car speakers. Ahhh bliss! Their last record Crimes had taken awhile to grow on me, but when it did it was quite an infectious disease. And while I insantly liked this album, I still like Crimes, This adultery and March on better. This is better than Burn Piano Island Burn though. That album had songs that were waaay too long. Ironically my fav song on here is one of the longer ones : Camouflage, Camouflage. Anywho buy this album, kids, it'll drive your parents crazy.
Oh and see them in concert! I lost count of how many times Ive seen them live and its always a pleasure!
And buy all the Blood Brothers cds, especially March On Electric Children and my personal favorite This Adultery is Ripe.

What to say....

This album changes pace so many times that it's almost exhausting. And that is part of why I like The Blood Brothers. The lo-fi grittiness of their earlier albums such as "This Adultery is Ripe" or "March on Electric Children" has been polished, but not in a way that seems to change the band.

The lyrics are as disturbing and poetic as ever, and the insane but impressive vocals are just as forceful as ever. Songs like "Giant Swan" and "Street Wars/Exotic Foxholes" turn down the tempo for at least some of their duration, providing another angle on their sound.

"Young Machetes" is a schizophrenic album, and is also potentially my favorite from the Blood Brothers. In addition, the album art, for me, is highly representative of the feeling I get when listening to these songs: frightening, yet strangely interesting.

Being a Seattle native, I grew up on the Blood Brothers. I went to school with Johnny and worked at venues in Seattle, mainly the Graceland aka El Corazon.

It has been amazing to see their career bloom. Unfortunate that 'Young Machetes' was their last album, but in my personal opinion, I think it's safe to say it's their most ambitious album to date.

In early 2006 Seattle natives got previews of several songs like 'Set Fire to the Face on Fire' 'We Ride Skeletal Lightning' 'Vital Beach' and 'Rat Rider' and I was just thrilled. Even though I often hear fellow fans say, they completely changed, blah blah BLAH. Who cares? Are you the same kid you were three, six, nine years ago?

I also hear fellow fans complain about this record saying that Jordan didn't sing as much (Jordan is the more manly sounding vocalist) and saying that there was too much Johnny (obviously the, "Is that a girl singing?" vocalist). In a way they are right, but Jordan still sings just as much. I think it's pretty even.

the Blood Brothers are for open minded people period. If you have never heard them, they're a really spastic branch of music that was once considered art-punk, but trying to categorize them off of this LP, I would just call them by their name.

They fuse a lot of different instruments and styles together, my favorite part of the Blood Brothers has always been the piano. Their lyrics are usually a a ____ed up painting of society and their views on the world. First listener will probably have a hard time understanding a lot of their lyrics, namingly 'Youre the Dream Unicorn!' which older fans should really take a liking to with it's extremely fast paced screeching vocals, manic drum beats and punky guitars.

This album mashes the best parts of 2004's 'Crimes' and 2003's 'Burn Piano Island, Burn!' and takes their musicianship to a bigger horizon. They deffinately experimented with their vocal capabilities instead of screaming constantly, using different melodies with their bandmates music to compliment the expansion.

personal favorite tracks:
We Ride Skeletal Lightning
You're the Dream, Unicorn!
Spit Shine Your Blacks Clouds
Lift the Veil, Kiss the Tank
Huge Gold AK-47
Giant Swan

This album shouldn't disappoint true Blood Brothers fans, never heard the band, you've probably heard of them because you listen to something that wouldn't be considered radio friendly or normal, so open your mind and give 'Young Machetes' a listen.

The Blood Brothers - Young Machetes
The Blood Brothers are my favorite band, so of course my review is gonna be kinda biased. But still, I think the band is amazing. You can't really label them, but if I had to, I'd label them as experimental. And I like that, they aren't trying to sound like anybody except themselves. Johnny Whitney is aweosme, haha. He screams like a 5 year girl getting raped, and I enjoy every second of it. Honestly, without him, I think the band would kinda suck. One thing I like is how many people get turned off by this band just because of him, haha. But I like differentstuff, this band is definately different. And if you get used to the vocals, you will realize how amazing they are.
But anyways, Burn Piano Island Burn was loud and aggresive, Crimes was experimenting with new, softer material. And with Young Machetes it appears that they have found the perfect balance. Whatever, I'm tired, so I'm just gonna make things easier by simply reviewing each song.

*= Highly Recommended

*Set Fire to the Face on Fire - 5/5, a great opener song, I never get tired of hearing it. It's the most "annoying" song in terms of vocals. But I still love it, it has a good beat, the vocals are ear shattering and confusing. Great way to open up an album.

We Ride Skeletal Lightning - 2.5/5, The first 4 lines of the song are cool, then after that it's just kinda annoying. This song really isn't too special, it's pretty much a filler song, that's it.

*Laser Life - 5/5, amazing song. I love it, it's catchy and the vocals are great. Johnny's voice is extra girlish on this one, and those are the songs that are normally the best. But they really didn't need the screaming section of this song, because it sounded perfectly fine either way. This song just seemed perfectly executed.

*Camouflage, Camouflage - 5/5, They really outdid themselves on this song. This is one of those songs that you can really sing along too. "Camouflage, Camouflage, the city's draped in, Camouflage." True, this song is a tad bit main streamish, but who cares, it's constructed amazingly. It's so catchy and...oh man, it's just great. And then there's Johnny's solo section, where he starts singing like a princess. I love it when he does that, and then after his solo the song doesn't finish as well as it started, but that's okay. It's a great song though.

You're the Dream Unicorn - 2/5, another filler song. Bleh, it has some good parts with the screaming, but that's it.

Vital Beach - 3/5, Yet another filler song, but this one is interesting to listen too. I still don't care much for it, it just sounds better. It's an okay song.

Spit Shine Your Black Clouds - 3.5/5, For some reason I don't like this song much anymore because it seems to long. I used to be obssesed with it, but it's basically the same song beats and such going on in the song for the entire thing. And it's a long song too. But what they do have is really nice, to explain this song, it's like what you'd expect to hear when there is a happy scene in a movie where some dude is prancing through the park...while being stalked by wolverines.

*1, 2, 3, 4 Guitars - 5/5, This is a personal favorite, I quickly fell in love with this song. The vocals are absolutely amazing on this one. Once again Johnny sounds like a beautiful little princess...from hell. Actually, this song is all about Johnny. Jordan does sing, but it's not as noticable. Johnny starts this one off calm, and then he grabs you by the neck and bites out your arteries when he starts screaming. How would I describe it, well, he sounds like a retarded 5 year old...yeah. He cranks the volume of his voice up...alot. I love it :D

*Lift The Veil, Kiss The Tank - 5/5, Oh hell yes, a great song. It's hard to explain this one...I really can't. It's just extremely well constructed. I especially like the ending, where it sounds patriotic...you'd have to listen to it yourself, because I can't really explain the beauty of this one.

Nausea Shreads Your Head - 3.5/5, Ah, yet another filler song. But this one is decent. This is the kind of stuff The Blood Brothers started out with. Frantic, hard to understand singing, so it's nice to hear some of the old stuff. It's just a screaming song, that's pretty much it. So yeah, it's a filler, but a good one.

*Rat Rider - 4.5/5, Sugar monkeys...that's what pops into my head when I think of this song. It's so full of energy, seriously, it's a good way to get pumped up. The song starts out crazy, get's soft, then goes crazy again. It's the crazy parts I enjoy the most. Because the song immediately starts out so frantic, like your running from the apocalypse. I love it!!!

Johnny Ripper - 2.5/5, Bleh, I don't care for this song, a filler. It's repetetive, I just like the guitar solo part. But besides that, nah, nothing special to say about this song. Although it is cool to hear Jordan sing by himself.

Huge Gold AK-47 - 2.5/5, Another filler. Nothing special, I like the way they huge "Huge Gold AK-47" but that's it. This song isn't to special.

Street Wars/Exotic Foxholes - 4/5, Wow, not really a filler, but not much singing to listen too. This song is way longer then it should be. There is like, 45 seconds of beats, 1 1/2 minutes of singing, and then the other 2 1/2 or 3 minutes of the so of the song are just pointless beats. But I like it when they do sing in this song, very nice vocals, but just kinda repetetive. But it is a very soothing song.

*Giant Swan - 5/5, And the album goes out with a bang!!! This is a great song to listen too. The Blood Brothers, at least for the past 3 albums, for there last song it starts out calm, has a crazy part, and then finishes of calm. But this is the best one when it comes to that. The song begins with the sound of clock tickings, and then Johnny's beautiful voice kicks in. Nice and relaxing, hehe. I absolutely love the screaming portion of this song. And like a freakin hyper sugar monkey rush...thing. It's crazy, they go balistic, and then they drift back into there soothing voices. And then, the album comes to an end.

...and he should know, as The Blood Brothers can pack all the energy, danger, screaming and psychosis of a ten-minute Rollins work-out into a 2:02 song. If you need something loud, fast and cathartic, these are your guys.

It's hard to describe a band that breaks as many rules as The Blood Brothers do. Coming from a very strict, stultified genre (metal/punk/fill-in-blank-core), there were many rules to break. What at first sounds like messy, noisy, screameriffic art punk with insanely shrill dual lead vocalists coalesces (with repeated listenings) into something totally unique in music, modern or other. If you can stand the repeated listenings, that is.

Most importantly to me, The Blood Brothers have something rare among `metal' acts... a sense of humor. One glance at the song titles should tell you what's up...and the lyrics are even better: smart, funny, poetic and provocative. Although their themes of anti-war, pro-environment pissed-offedness aren't unique, the way they express them is, without ever being smarmy or preachy. And here's a hint: If a song has a title like "You're The Dream Unicorn!", it's sure to be one of the most atonal, fastest, shortest, loudest tracks on the disc. And it is!

The Blood Brothers actually aren't messy at all, they are incredibly tight as a band. And they'd have to be, considering the rapid tempo changes and volume shifts. Even lead vocalists Jordan Blilie and Johnny Whitney only scream some of the time, although their `regular' voices are quite weird too, and an aquired taste. With The Blood Brothers, what you hear first are the crazed vocals and thundering, ultra-creative drums (courtesy of Mark Gajadhar)...the basses, guitars and keyboards are de-emphasized by comparison.

On "Young Machetes", all of The Blood Brothers influences: punk, metal, "Wipe-Out"-style surf, glam, and yes, even pop, mesh into a beautiful whole. More than on any of their previous discs, The Blood Brothers are forging an entirely new form of music from the ingredients of the old. And the songwriting is fantastic, from the anthemic, jaw-dropping opening track "Set Fire To The Face On Fire", to the hi-powered glam singalong of "Rat Rider".

I like every track on here, and I don't want to comment on all of them, but I couldn't leave without a few more mentions:

"Spit Shine Your Black Clouds": The Beastie Boys wish they could do a funk-stomp like this, but they'll just have to keep dreaming...

"1234 Guitars": This starts off sounding like some sort of demented Gorillaz outtake, but soon sets off on a rollercoaster ride through tempos and styles (including a mosh waltz section!)

and my absolute favorite is:

"Johnny Ripper": If a perfect song came out in '06, this has got to be it. The energy level of this song is incredibly high...and then the `bridge' pops in and it goes even higher. Unbelievable stuff. I swear you can hear sparks flying off of the guitar on this one...

Well, this is long enough (too long maybe)... but bands like this only come along once in a blue moon. Experimentation in popular music is usually discouraged by labels and fans alike. There is a lot of hate against The Blood Brothers out there, one only has to read the quips on a music site, or reviews here, to see that. Their future as a band is in doubt; they've announced a breakup, which was then quickly recanted. Now they are on `hiatus' until '08...their label V2 has all but folded. And the band members all have other side projects. This is extra sad to me because I think The Blood Brothers are a national resource. So check `em out before they are just a memory to a lucky few... ;oD