New Music Review

Strange Boys
Be Brave
In the Red Records
CD

The new release from Austin garage rockers The Strange Boys is something I've been anxious about hearing for quite some time. I've been looking forward to it with a bizarre mix of optimism and skepticism. You may recall this post in November, in which I detailed their curious lineup changes. Well now, the wait is over. Be Brave was released on CD on 3/2, and is slated for LP release on 3/16. I was tempted to hold off purchasing it until the record came out, but I just couldn't wait that long, so I went ahead and ahead and picked it up. And the initial verdict on the follow-up to the Strange Boys amazing debut ...and Girls Club? Well, to be honest, I was kind of disappointed.

But let's elaborate from there, shall we? Disappointment probably isn't a fair word to use. For one, nearly anything would seem disappointing in comparison to the Strange Boys first album. It's also worth pointing out that this one sounded a lot better on subsequent listenings. Overall, I guess it just wasn't what I was expecting. It sounds a lot more subdued than their debut, and that may have something to do with the fact that they no longer have their original drummer, Matt Hammer, who was a first class basher. There's nothing wrong with a mellow feel. In fact, there are a few fantastic tracks on this release. The titular track stands out the most. It's quite possibly the song of 2010 to this point. It's got a classic Strange Boys groove, and a saxophone solo by new band member Jenna Thornhill deWitt (ex-Mika Miko). Other highlights of the album include the opening track "I See" and "Night Might", both of which serve as reminders of why Strange Boys have been one of my favorite bands since the first time I heard them.

As for the songs that don't do all that much for me, I think I might be holding the band to an unfair standard. In some instances, it seems as though singer Ryan Sambol might be trying to bite off more than he can chew as a songwriter. Sometimes he makes attempts at being very poetic. Sometimes he succeeds, other times he doesn't. Even so, the songs that seem to have questionable lyrics, "Laugh at Sex, not Her" and "Da Da" are the first ones that come to mind, the musicianship is so much greater than other bands of the Garage genre that it doesn't really matter. I don't want to blast Sambol for taking chances.

All things considered, this is a pretty damn solid effort. There are a few great tracks, and a few not so great tracks, and all the stuff in the middle is pretty decent. Strange Boys...and Girls Club was my choice as the best album of 2009. Be Brave probably won't be my favorite of 2010, but that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with it, per se. It just doesn't have as many standout tracks as the first one. It bears repeating that most records by most bands don't have as many standout tracks as that one did. So yeah, maybe I am a little disappointed by this record. But the real point that needs to be made here is the fact that I care enough about this band to be disappointed in the first place. This is a good record by a great band and you should buy it.

Kind of a Drag

It appears that Mika Miko is calling it quits. I'm disappointed to hear this for a couple of reasons. For one, as far as girl punk goes, they were pretty friggin' good at it. Second, the last time they played Atlanta, they headlined the Drunken Unicorn. I went to that show to see the Strange Boys open up, and I had planned to stick around for Mika Miko, but left because it was running late and I had an early start the next day. My rationale was that they would likely pass through town again soon, as they had played here several times before. Rats.

Speaking of the Strange Boys, it looks like they're changing their makeup pretty radically. As I mentioned yesterday, Matt Hammer is no longer their drummer. He has been replaced by Seth Densham from Mika Miko. Bands change drummers all the time, but according to The Strange Boys' Myspace page, they're now a 6 piece, with Jenna from Mika Miko as a vocalist and sax player, and Tim Presley from Darker My Love as a backing vocalist.

I don't know what to think about this, but my instincts tell me it's not going to be good. It may be nothing to worry about it; they may just be using a sax and backing vocals on a couple tracks in the studio and still touring as a four piece. That wouldn't be such a big deal. However, touring as a six piece and featuring saxophone on every song would be a drastic change to what I think is already a fabulous thing. The Strange Boys are the only jaw-dropping act I've seen in the last year. I saw them open for Darker My Love at the Earl last December, I saw them headline the Earl in April while my alma mater was getting the shit stomped out of them by UNC in the NCAA men's basketball championship game, and I saw them at the aforementioned Drunken Unicorn show. They were outstanding all three times. They are living proof that just because you're putting out a lo-fi sound, you can still have good songs, great tone and can be a tight band. If any band has earned the benefit of the doubt, it's them, but I can't help but be a little skeptical. The Strange Boys' ...and Girl's Club is still one of my favorite albums from 2009, so hopefully they won't veer too far off of the course they've already set.