Broken Bells – Broken Bells
I know what you’re thinking, “Man, I wish Brian Burton and James Mercer would get together and release an album featuring their best qualities in an unsuspected collaboration of greatness.” Broken Bells is here with their self-titled debut album featuring James Mercer, the vocalist of indie-shoe-gazers, The Shins. Couple that with Brian Burton, better known as Danger Mouse. He’s the mastermind behind the production of groups such as The Black Keys, Gorillaz, and Gnarls Barkley (Yea, that guy.). Yes, that means the mellow Californian beach rock of The Shins is getting smashed against the thumping beats of “Clint Eastwood.” And now your mind is blown.
The album opens with “The High Road,” the lead single of the album, a fun sing-along with Danger Mouse going bananas on his production board, and Mercer pounding away on the electric keys. The song pretty much lets in on pretty much everything you need to know about the next nine songs. Your ears are in for catchy beats and production blanketed with the harmonies of a mastermind that knows how to whisper in your ear and not let you go. “Your Head is on Fire” only further proves that this collaboration was destined. When a song has laser beams flying around in between your ears, then a song comparable to the Beach Boys seeps its way in; I no longer want to live in a world without Broken Bells.
“The Ghost Inside” is a little heavy in the Gorillaz department with the thumping bass, which isn’t ever a bad thing, but Mercer attempts a falsetto that just sounds like a foul attempt at being Damon Albarn. Mercer should just stick with being James Mercer. However, the album quickly recovers with “Sailing to Nowhere,” a Beatles inspired romp with “If God Will Send His Angels” sounding-production off of U2’s Pop album. To some that could sound like a nightmare, but trust me it is excellent.
But then Mercer embodies a mellowed out megaphoned Brandon Flowers from The Killers in “Trap Doors.” The song is a slow electro-marimba infused that defects to a Shins-styled tune before turning into a strings request to join Broken Bells. It is without a doubt the best and most interesting song Brandon Flowers has never ever been a part of. And that’s the way the rest of the album goes, songs full of hyphenated combinations, referencing influences and interests in the new and old. Broken Bells is by far and wide one of the most unlikely and interesting recordings few will ever discover.
Release Date: March , 2010
Order: HERE
Official Website: HERE
Official MySpace Page: HERE
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