Heavy Rotation: Week Ending March 26, 2010

01. BNLX – EP#1, (Susstones.2010)
02. Nadja – When I See The Sun Always Shines on TV, (End.2009)
03. Various – Secondhand Sureshots, (Dublab.2010)
04. “Baby Lee” by Teenage Fanclub, (Merge.2010)
05. Various – Top 50 Favorite Songs of 2005, (personal comp.2006)
06. Violent Arrest – Minute Manifestos, (Boss Tuneage.2010)
07. Scritti Politti – White Bread Black Beer, (Nonesuch/Rough Trade.2006)
08. The Clientele – Bonfires of the Heath, (Merge.2009)
09. Bob Burns & The Breakups – Terminal Breakdown, (Gearhead.2007)
10. The Fall – The Light User Syndrome, (Castle Music.1996)

BNLX is the duo of e.a. and a.a. (veterans of the Twin Cities music scene, playing in bands such as Polara and The Mood Swings) that play a furious brand of noise pop. I was talking to e.a. a few months ago and he told me about BNLX, how they are an electronic-noise-punk act ala Ministry and Primal Scream (XTRMTR-era) with some Brit pop/power pop thrown. He said, “I think you'd love it.” He was right. Oh fuck it, you know who I'm talking about right? Ed Ackerson of Polara fame. And a.a.? His wife Ashley of The Mood Swings. Yeah. Check it.

I love the concept – taking aggressive music and layering it into straight up pop songs, the anonymity in those early press releases, the homemade/hand-numbered packaging for the EP, the idea of creating some buzz and strategically releasing details and streaming tracks, the excellence in hooks and melody (Ed has one of my favorite voices and it fits surprisingly well here), the lack of pretension (there is plenty of humor w/out being super jokey). I love how different the style is for the Ackersons. The four songs on the EP are very good. Let's get to it:

“Do Without” - this was the first song BNLX released and it is an amazing slab of electro-punk-noise-pop. That Ministry influence that e.a. mentioned? You find it here – especially in the way the chorus takes a darker turn. The boy-girl vocal interaction/harmonizing is a wonderful juxtaposition with the aggressive stance the music takes. The second best track on the EP.

“You Left Me Here” - mega-driving, near shoegaze-y, post-punk-rawk. Ed sings in a faux-brit accent which is kinda funny, and, oddly, it fits. The vibe of the song has the mid-80s goth-pop thing going on (musically and lyrically). Think Robert Smith, Morrissey fronting a C86 band playing Ministry.

“LMAO (CMEO)” - hated this song at first. The chanting of “LMAO” and “CMEO” bugged the hell out of me. I stuck with it though and it's become one of my favorites. Ed and Ashley play the boy-girl lead vocal thing to full effect. Ashley sings, “Should I be Laughing My Ass Off?” and Ed responds, “Or Crying My Eyes Out?” - I love how they turn the stereotype around, the guy in tears over the troubled relationship. The song is too damn catchy for its own good.

“Row and Row” - if you follow me on Twitter, you know how much I love this song. Tons of glorious dirty feedback-laden ice guitars, a driving-shit-storm drum machine, heavy-fuzzed-out bass, and a melody that is really a litany of hooks. Here that Primal Scream influence comes through (you could also bring up The Raveonettes for a reference point), but it's also thoroughly its own. There is a nerve-wrecking tension as e.a. and a.a. sing “You got pick up the pace!”, the song is relentless as it is addictive.

Last Saturday evening, the mysterious BNLX lifted their shroud and played their first live gig; which coincided with the release of this recording. It was a night of great music & performance. There was an bonkers light show and tons of fog. My only complaint is the tempo seemed a bit slow and the controlled-chaos could've been ramped up. Splitting hairs. Much to do about nothing. Nit picking. I can't wait for more from BNLX.

Head over to the Susstones Records website for a ton of BNLX content including MP3 downloads of a few songs. Seriously. GO. NOW.

###