Review - Beheaded by Bedhead

I'm writing this to tell you about an album I'm really enjoying. It is "Beheaded" by the band Bedhead. Maybe you've already heard of it/them, maybe you haven't. Either way I'm going to go ahead and overwrite the hell out of this recommendation

Bedhead were a 90s indie rock band, sometimes perhaps unfairly called slow-core. I say this because I don't really know how anyone can get excited over a genre called slow-core. The singer's voice is subdued and reminds me a little of Ira Kaplan ofYo La Tengo, and I think if you like YLT you'll like Bedhead as well.

At the recommendation of one of my favorite blogs I checked out their first album, "WhatFunLifeWas", and while I liked it I was a bit disappointed. It seemed a little too simple, relying on the same predictable dynamic shifts. There were a few good tracks on it, but as a whole I didn't think it was that special.

I found their third album at a used record store, and while I liked that it was more polished, and I thought the songs were well-written, it sounded a bit tired and didn't have that something to make it great.

Flash forward to a week ago, and I decided to try out their second album, "Beheaded". I hadn't listened to it earlier because I thought any album that's a pun on the band's name isn't going to be that good. I was wrong.

It's darker than Bedhead's other efforts, and than those the band that rose from Bedhead's ashes, The New Year, write. But it definitely has a kind of originality the other albums lack; from the opening track I could tell this was different from the other Bedhead I'd heard. It can be depressing and bleak, but I'm unaware of any albums like it.

The next track is reminiscent of the first Bedhead album, gradually getting louder and more intense. A little predictable, but he climax is rewarding and better than most of the songs on WhatFunLifeWas.

There are a few tracks in here, that while are not necessarily throw-away tracks, aren't as strong as the album highlights. But seven out of 11 tracks being great are some pretty good percentages. And seven is a safe estimate.

The lyrics also seem better this time around, but it could be that they're just easier to hear. Or maybe it's just the way the singer pulls off the lyrics that makes me want to find a lyrics sheet, that makes it hard to ignore the meaning of the words coming out of his mouth.

In addition to the first track, "Smoke", "Roman Candle", "Withdraw" and "Lares And Penates" are worth you listening to this album. "Withdraw" is probably the most accessible, so if you need to preview a track I'd check out that one. However, "Lares and Penates" is my personal favorite at the moment. But honestly every track is an enjoyable listen.

So if you're looking for a quiet and depressing but beautiful album, give Beheaded a go.