Uncovered Albums is where I take a
look at a musical work that might not exactly be “underground,”
but definitely not popular in the public consciousness. In other
words, this is a look at albums that I feel need to garner more
attention.
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Bobcore,
the first release in a new style of music
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On
Tuesday, the second of June, in 2009, history was made. A little
album called Bobcore
found its way on the internet. The download was free. The reaction
was met with groans to a mild bewilderment to outright mental
breakdowns. Nothing has been the same since.
Bob
Barker Blastocore Band started out as a small experiment between two
brothers, Andrew and Evan Arnold, and their first album, Bobcore,
feels very much like how it was made: an experiment. The idea behind
Bobcore was to take
the loud, often ear-shattering, sound of “brass beats” and
combine it with that of punk and grunge. Throw in some piano and
other additional instruments, and we have a multi-genre-spanning
album, not unlike that of the work from Frank Zappa and the Mothers
of Invention or The Gorillaz.
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The
band's original line-up of two.
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The
album starts out with a literal bang. A pattern of brief dialogue,
then a quick tap on the drumsticks, concluding with an explosive drum
and vocal ensemble became the traditional standard to start every
album (and almost ever track, but we'll get to that in a minute).
Bobcore immediately
sucks us in with four of its best tracks: “First,” “Italy vs
Sweden,” “Blastoise,” and “Constipation,” the latter of
which is one of my favorite songs on the album, and one of my
favorite songs produced by the band. The songs are quick and fast
with a sudden transition to the next track. Its as if the creators
were saying, “We're not messing around here. This is what we're
playing. You'll have to either accept it or listen to some Kenny G.”
I do not find this attitude pretentious in the slightest.
It's
interesting looking at some of the creative choices on Bobcore.
The track, “Black Key Flowers,” features a piano accompaniment
that wouldn't be out of place on a light jazz album. “Do the Bob
Barker” includes guest vocals by Allison Arnold, the creators'
sister who just happened to be in the studio at the time of the
recording session (and their parents were featured on later songs
such as Spayed and Neutered's
“Laundry Time”). “Yorg“ shows that the main vocalist could
easily front a death metal band, and “Trossingen” features a Bob
Dylan-style mouth harp, thus reminding the listener of the band's
eclectic range. “The End” is a three-parter that suggests the
musicians were not sure when to stop recording, a rare look into the
behind the scenes of the recording process.
Fans
had to initially wait an entire year for the band's follow-up album.
On July 6 of 2010, it felt like Christmas to receive a new Blastocore
album, hence the appropriately titled Christmas in July.
While nothing too different, this album felt like a natural extension
of the first one. It introduces a few new musical concepts into the
previously established formula while maintaining the spirit of
Bobcore.
Let's
talk about that formula for a second, shall we? There are some
critics who would write this album off as “more of the same.”
Actually, a lot of listeners might say that statement rings true for
every song in the band's discography, but they wouldn't be looking
hard enough if suggesting such a blanket statement. Yes, Christmas
in July has a lot of the same
screaming vocals and drum beats that you'd expect it to have, but it
does offer some new surprises.
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Christmas in July
lived up to its title.
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And
what surprises there are! For example, “This Song Brought to You by
the Letter 'G'” is probably the only publicly released work of
music to give us a musician dictating the notes he's playing to his
audience! When has a band ever entertained such an original idea as
that, I ask you? “Bob Barker's Lonely Blastocore Band” is a
avaunt-garde cover of the title track from The Beatles' Sgt.
Pepper album. The vocals are
overshadowed by the cymbals on this one, but I assume this was a
deliberate choice on the part of the creators. “The Crazy Favowave”
is quite possibly the most experimental song the band ever concocted,
as its running time of four minutes and forty-five seconds is way
longer than the average Blastocore song. Finally, “Intro”
features my favorite exchange of dialogue on the album, words that I
quote all too frequently. (“Aww, crap! They're back!” “NO!”)
In all, Christmas in July
is a full picture of a band improving and trying to find itself, not
unlike-to use another Beatles comparison-Revolver.
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Spayed and Neutered
might be the band's swan song.
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Fans
of the experimental movement that was Blastocore had to wait three
agonizing years before Spayed and Neutered
hit the web. (Most local servers in my area crashed upon its impact.)
The band's official Facebook announcement before the album hit asked
its viewers to “prepare your anuses.” This statement could not be
more truthful as there is not doubt in this reviewer's mind that the
resulting album is the band's high water mark.
If
Christmas in July was
the equivalent to Revolver,
then Spayed and Neutered
is Abbey Road. The
third release in the band's catalogue is their most daring and risky
venture to date, throwing new instruments into the mix at great
force. As before, woodblock, chimes, and harmonica parts are on full
display here, but with more prominence, as well as the addition of
Mellophone and Vuvuzela. The most notable change is the addition of a
guest musician. The band's younger brother, Graham, brings additional
vocals to the mix as well as his Mellophone and Vuvuzela skills. His
presence on the album is introduced on the track “A Whole New No,”
signifying the different direction that Graham was forbidden in
taking the band in.
Among
the many highlights on Spayed and Neutered
are “Everyone Likes Cookies” and “Cheddar Dreams,” featuring
recipes that double as lyrics. The simple, quaint tones of “Never
Go to Arby's” are a sharp contrast to the fast paced horns and
drums on “Eat at Arby's Every Day.” “Elephant Birthing” ties
with Bobcore's
“Constipation” as my favorite song in the band's discography.
Whereas “Constipation” was the band at their most basic roots,
“Elephant Birthing” adds sharply timed horns to an already
perfected sound. Spayed and Neutered
includes the follow-up songs “Trossingen 2” and “Tasty
(reprise).” “Bang!” literally ends the album with said bang,
just as Bobcore began
with one.
In
all, Spayed and Neutered is the work of band who has improved their
talents and methods while still retaining their traditional sound.
Although I'm a big fan of the simple beginning that is Bobcore,
the third album is truly a milestone. One that begs for repeat
listening.
So,
when shall we see a fourth album, you may ask? Well, the answer to
that is one that band's members don't even know. Everyone involved in
the project is either married or in a long term relationship, and is
additionally involved in their respective careers. Evan lives on the
opposite side of the country from the others, and Andrew has taken up
various musical side projects. The brothers Arnold have expressed
wanting to get together to put out a fresh new assortment of songs,
but Blastocore fans may have to wait another decade before this
happens, if that. It doesn't help that the estate of Bob Barker, the
former host of The Price is Right,
has not yet caught wind of the band, but I imagine they wouldn't be
too keen with the use of Bob's image. All these factors have
prevented a fourth collaboration, but if it ever does happen, I'm
hoping they choose to use “Come on Down” as the album's title.
So now you know
all about an intensely hardcore band that you've never violated your
precious virgin ears with. If you like their sound (and you almost
surely will), go ahead and recommend them to friends. Maybe even
start a crowdfunding movement for new material. I usually do not
spend this much time writing these reviews, but I felt this band
deserved a special exception. Stay tuned for more uncovered gems in
the future. In the meantime, here's the band's Facebook and website
where you can download their discography for free:
