The Days of Lore

Hmm … very strange, boys

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010 | musiX | No Comments

[Ed. Note: It's no secret to anyone that The Days of Lore loves The Strange Boys (I mean, unhealthy). The band's debut handily made the top spot on the TDoL 2009 year-end list. Sheesh, you think I'd have already written something on their latest record Be Brave. Well, I did for one of the publications that actually pays for my opinions on music. Since I hate repeating myself, here it is. Enjoy!]

0riginally published in the Chico News & Review, March 11, 2010

Last year Austin’s The Strange Boys released their In The Red debut, a record that had more in common with rock ’n’ roll’s formative years than it did the label’s garage-punk rock roster. It’s been less than a year, and the Boys (and new girl, former Mika Miko saxophonist Jenna Thornhill-DeWitt) are already offering up album No. 2.

Be Brave lacks the sock-hop pop of And Girls Club, and instead sounds as if the band spent time hanging out in a smoke-filled back room with England’s Newest Hitmakers. The more lackadaisical feel could be partly attributed to the absence of powerhouse drummer (and co-founder) Matt Hammer, who left the band last year. But what the new songs lack in energy they more than make up for in texture and intimacy. Ryan Sambol’s voice creaks like an old rocking chair on more spare folk offerings like “All You Can Hide Inside” and “Dare I Say.” And piano and organ fuel the record’s boozy blues (“Between Us”), while sax rips through on the title track.

If anything, Be Brave shows that The Strange Boys are their own men/woman—which should make album No. 3 all the more interesting.

“Between Us” - The Strange Boys

“Be Brave” - The Strange Boys

Video for “Be Brave”

Tags: Be Brave, In The Red, Jenna Thornhill-DeWitt, Matt Hammer, Mika Miko, Ryan Sambol, The Strange Boys