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The Bronx’s self-titled album did not sound quite how I had expected it to be. Which is a great example of two things. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover, and listen before you buy. If you don’t know who The Bronx are and haven’t ever heard them like myself, you will be surprised.

A young band out of Los Angeles, The Bronx, formerly on the hardcore/metalcore label Ferret Records, is now in the big time with their first release on Island/Def Jam. From the beginning track “Senor Hombre de Tamale”, you’re still in the dark as to the sound of the band, which becomes quickly apparent with the next track. The punk/alternative band quickly draws comparisons with The Hives, The Vines and The Strokes, but faster and with more screaming. With fast guitar chords and screams intact, the first true song sonically knocks you out of your seat and continues to do so for some time.

The tracks are short and fast-paced, that is until you reach track 6 titled “Dirty Leaves”. The most melodic of the album, it’s also the most listenable. Lyrically, this is the first one where you can truly understand what Matt Caugthran is saying. Mostly weighed down by screaming, straining and wailing, the vocals and lyrics are hard to catch upon first listen, but the more you listen, you start to be able to decipher what he’s trying to say. The guitars tend to take on a slight rockabilly sound after the initial blast of speed, but never quite slow down to a melodic tone and never really lose much of the quickness. The last song “White Guilt” actually takes on a Lynyrd Skynyrd feel in the guitars, which is completely different from the rest of the album.

With song titles like “Rape Zombie”, “Transsexual Blackout (The Movement)” and “Shitty Future”, I’m actually a little surprised that they’ve achieved commercial success, so I have to give them respect there. Musically, I’m not surprised at all though. They’re music is tightly put together and the vocals tend to grow on you. Touring with such heavyweights as The Hives and more metal-based High on Fire and Mastadon, they can’t quite decide where they fit in.

The Bottom Line: Never being a fan of The Hives, I was surprised how it kinda grew on me, even if they did sound extremely similar. If you don’t like the bands I’ve mentioned, you should still definitely give it a shot. It could grow on you. If you are partial to this type of music, then go for it, I’d highly recommend this album. It has some good tracks when you can understand what he can say. It’s an album that’s worth multiple listens, if only to come to a conclusion as to whether or not you like it. It’s well done and well put together, but nothing too spectacular or new. Still, not quite my cup of tea, as they put it, but still not something I’d label as bad in anyway really.

Tracklisting

01. Senor Hombre de Tamale
02. Small Stone
03. Shitty Future 04. History’s Stranglers
05. Oceans of Class
06. Dirty Leaves
07. Transsexual Blackout (The Movement)
08. Mouth Money
09. Rape Zombie
10. Around the Horn
11. Three Dead Sisters
12. Safe Passage
13. White Guilt

Websites

TheBronxxx.com
MySpace.com/TheBronx

Record Label:

• Island Records / Def Jam Records

Release Date:

• 07/18/2006

Reviewer:

• Kelly