The Deal: Category-defying duo releases fourth studio album.
The Good: When I first heard the band’s ’05s Frances the Mute, I was instantly blown away and the disc didn’t leave my car for weeks. These 12 new tracks may just do the same thing. Their last effort, ’06s Amputechture, was weak by these standards. The Bedlam rocks and rolls, twists and turns and chugs along at a furious pace, only stopping from time to time to witness the carnage left behind. It’s Zappa-esque in its ability to combine genres while creating its own and thundering along like classic rock. The duo also gets some help from their friends on the album, including Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante.
The Bad: Moments of falsetto vocals can grate a bit, but if you focus on all the layers of the music, they’re never going to be a problem. Some tracks have odd moments of near-noise, but they’re usually gone before you notice.
The Verdict: From two-minute quick-hitters to nine-minute epics, the album takes the listener for an adventure you don’t want to go home from. Definitely in the early running for one of the best albums of ’08. It’ll blow your mind.
This article appears in Feb 20-26, 2008.
