Nightmare Of You – Bang EP
Record Label: The Bevonshire Label (Self-Released)
Release Date: September 11, 2007
Now that we’ve all settled into Nightmare Of You’s sound, now that the shock of dancey indie pop has worn off, we can truly appreciate the group. Their self-titled debut was an unexpected surprise that eventually turned into one of the most replayable albums in my collection. Here’s the abridged version: if you liked Nightmare of You, you’re going to absolutely adore Bang. The EP is a simple, 5-song offering clocking in at less than 20 minutes. (Brace for cliché). Despite its lack of quantity, Bang’s quality could hardly be higher.
Someone once told me I was very self-aware. I laughed it off quickly, while inwardly I was thrown into a spiral of over-analyzation. Still, my mean streak of nervous sweats and nightmares is nothing compared to Brandon Reilly. His lyrics usually focus on, well, himself. But I hesitate to call him self-centered. He knows himself better than anything else, so it makes sense that he spend time on his thoughts/going-out habits (a recurring them on Bang)/love escapades. Frankly, not many people can pull off a line like, “There’s nothing in this world / that’s quite prescribable / that makes me feel / the way I feel / when I look into your eyes,” without making it sound totally cheesy.
“I Was Never A Normal Boy” makes use of large, electric guitar swells and a strum-happy acoustic guitar while Reilly switches back and forth between his lazy delivery and a piercing falsetto. Sounds complicated, I know, but in true Nightmare Of You fashion, the execution is deceptively simple. “You’re Very Dear To Me” uses a whizzing synth that, along with Reilly’s slightly augmented vocals, succeeds in giving the track a glam-pop persuasion. The band’s other “big name,” drummer Samuel Siegler, plays an especially big part in “Herbal Jazz Cigarette.” As the name suggests, the song has a big band feel with Siegler’s snares pushing the song to multiple climaxes (dirty!). The band is as tight as ever, and Bang only makes me more excited for a new full length. However, as I alluded to earlier, their sound hasn’t branched out much. Bang’s tracks have a blending quality, but not in the “Which one was Jeff again?” way – think “Jeff and I mesh well together.” Still, the band’s ability to bring life to disenchanted indie rock is a feat in itself. Luckily for us, Brandon Reilly doesn’t seem to be getting any less bored. Stay in all you want, sir. Just keep writing them tunes.
Recommended If You Like: The Killers, The Sterns, Axe bodyspray, Fountains Of Wayne, something Of something (apparently the well is finally running dry)
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