Spring has arrived — that time of year where the weather changes and Rochester wakes up, and shakes off the monotony of winter. The snow melts away as trees and flowers start to bud; everyday things become a little livelier and more invigorating. Unfortunately, “Beat the Devil’s Tattoo” does not follow that trend. Droning on like a funeral march, this blues—influenced sixth release by Black Rebel Motorcycle club is utterly dreary.
“Beat the Devil’s Tattoo” follows the usual stomp-clap beat with a background guitar gain that can be found in many blues records, but unfortunately doesn’t explore the sound any further. All the songs sound remarkably similar in music, vocals, and beats. Aside from the occasional upbeat track or two, the consistent sound of a slight euphoric state behind a
distorted guitar overwhelms any difference that there may be. Not only do most of the tracks on this album sound the same, but they also sound the same as tracks on previous albums. Guitar distortion, muffled lyrics and a strong drumbeat are all that this album is. After repeated listening, it simply becomes white noise.
Of course, for those who aren’t familiar with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, it may be a good introductory album. The album’s sound is fairly standard for their musical style. As for those who have already listened to previous albums and know Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s sound, it can be overlooked until something more dynamic comes along, such as a live performance.
