British Sea Power, Do You Like Rock Music?, Rough Trade
Nationalist rockers British Sea Power return on February 12 with their third album, Do You Like Rock Music? Occasionally leaving behind some of the radio-friendliness of 2003’s Open Season in favor of their debut’s less nuanced—though arguably better—rock sound, the lads from Brighton, England hope your answer is yes. Although the band still fails to write great hooks consistently, the uptempo songs here are among their best to date.
Do You Like Rock Music? opens with “All In It,” the album’s most ethereal, almost tribal, track. The song doesn’t function well as an opener, but fortunately the second song, “Lights Out for Dark Skies,” bursts out of the gate with a raw but catchy hook. “Lights Out” would undoubtedly be the album’s best track if it didn’t run out of steam long before the conclusion of its 6:37 runtime. Next up is “No Lucifer,” replete with backing chants and one of the album’s best choruses, which manages to make vocalist Yan—whose meager vocal talents limit British Sea Power’s potential—sound like a slightly less fey Chris Martin.
While the band’s fans probably don’t want to entertain Coldplay comparisons—especially not when their debut drew comparisons Joy Division and the Pixies—it often seems like that’s the kind of appeal they’re going for here. Like some of Coldplay’s work, “Waving Flags” sounds like a regular pop song expanded into a massive epic through arty overproduction. The excellent Arcade Fire-style harmonies save the track, but a raw approach would have been more fitting.
Fortunately, the band sometimes rears back and blazes through an aggressive, angular song in the style of their early work. “Down on the Ground” and “Atom” are particularly explosive, keeping the album afloat. The album closes with a trio of slower, more ambient songs that don’t leave a lasting impression, confirming that British Sea Power is a better band when they stick to driving rock ‘n roll. Do You Like Rock Music? is ultimately an uneven listen, engaging only in those moments when it lives up to its name.
Voice’s Choices: “Lights Out for Dark Skies,” “No Lucifer”
