Bloomr’s debut is definitely one I highly recommend to any music fans that loved the bands they cited as influences but also the entire alternative movement from the early 1990’s until the shit got watered down by corporate bean counters and throwing knock offs of the stuff we liked before.
Do you remember a while back that video of “Sad Kermit” singing Hurt by Nine Inch Nails? I remember it because I found it absolutely hilarious. Not that substance abuse, depression, and suicide are hilarious. It was just how absurd it was that caused me to laugh. Needless to say, which is a horrible expression because the ass hole says it anyway, I have a very dark sense of humor. Almost syrupy like thick molasses. By the way, this is a whole lot of setup for very little pay off. As I listened to Bloomr’s first track on their debut album titled “1” on Rathawk Records, I was quickly reminded of “Sad Kermit”. It’s like Sad Kermit just got out of rehab and is starting to deal with his shit. But anyway the track is called “Living The Life”. A very nice and subtle introductory track from a band that self describes its origin as “the love child born of a long, sweaty, booze-fueled all nighter attended by Pete Yorn, Guided By Voices, Superdrag, Centro-Matic and Dinosaur Jr”. You can hear some of that right away. And that sounds like a manic fucking party. I dig it. The lyrics tell a story of daily life struggles. Something surely everyone can find relatable in some way. Although there is no resolution or end to the story, it’s appropriate. He’s still living the life. Which reminds me that I need to buy some booze.
The second track is titled “The One”. This song starts out with a heavier sludgy intro before falling back on a slow paced but forward moving groove. Then it gets back to the pounding intro phrase during the pre-chorus. A good back and forth with this pattern before going into a nice guitar solo and eventual outro. Again, Sad Kermit is finding self value by stating, “I guess I’ll be the one that got away.” A moody tune that definitely reminds me of my own angsty days in college when bands like Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins were starting to fill the airwaves. That fucking whor… sorry. A good follow up track to move the album along.
So after finishing a fourth vodka soda and throwing shit at the wall because that last track reminded me of someone who is nastier than Satan’s taint, I rolled into track 3 titled “Be Careful What You Wish For”. I’m hyped and ready to fight or mosh now. It starts out with great energy before bringing it down to another nice and even paced first verse. This song is definitely more pop influenced than the first two tracks but without losing it’s muddy, grungy pulse. Yeah I said “grungy”. I definitely found myself tapping my toes to this one and singing along once I knew the words. A short tune but a very memorable one. The continuity from the start of the record to this track is a great journey into the band’s influences and creativity. I went from toe tapping to kind of head bobbing at the end. I was feeling that shit, Son! But anyway....
Track 4 kicks right in with an almost Lemonheads kinda feel. The song is titled “Prey Away”. Get it? You will. The tempo is slightly more upbeat than the previous tracks and definitely arranged more traditionally except for a sudden halftime drop in the bridge that builds back up to the outgoing chorus. Very much like a Pete Yorn tune, who happens to be one of my favorite singer/songwriters. Definitely another toe tapper. I’m drunk.
BUT WAIT!!! “Maybe There Is More” is the next offering on this very well crafted debut album. Another cool pop tune with lyrics you will start repeating with the song. Some tongue in cheek lyrics, at least that’s how I interpreted it. The song is a steady plateau of the pace set by the previous track. It gives the album some continuity. I like continuity when listening to albums from front to back.
And that is “How The Game Is Won”. Track 6. The vocals get better with each track. This one starts with some subtle guitar and vocals before the entire band kicks hard into verse 2. I’m bobbing my head and tapping toes again. Sad Kermit ain’t sad no more. But that track was really short. Still very fun. I’m digging everything about this record from start to finish. I really need more booze.
And alas we arrive at the final track titled “Another Song To Sing”. An acoustic track. A good way to end the record. And now it seems Kermit is down on himself again. But I find this to be how life is for a lot of people. Ups and downs. At which point I would just start the record over and listen to it again and again and again. This album is only 22 minutes long and I’m hungover.
Bloomr’s debut is definitely one I highly recommend to any music fans that loved the bands they cited as influences but also the entire alternative movement from the early 1990’s until the shit got watered down by corporate bean counters and throwing knock offs of the stuff we liked before. Bloomr is not the latter. They show the influences but have their own vibe and feel. They have an upcoming release later this year titled “2” which I am very amped to listen to. I’m looking forward to seeing where they go next. Bloomr is a band and they are a very good band.
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