Bells on Trike
Bells on Trike [10-inch] (1996)
eatdogs
Take a step back from the current oversaturation of the “emo
revival†and listen to a band that did it better back in 1996. Of course they
weren’t trying to revive anything because they were already there. Instead of pandering,
they were original. Also they were one of the many who helped bring that twinkly
earworm Midwestern style to the reaches of today’s blogs and review sites.
Bells on Trike had only one release that we know of and it’s
a self-titled ep. It’s seven songs and it doesn’t overstay it’s welcome, it’s not a slave to its style, it’s not glamorous, it’s not well produced, but
darn if it isn’t a charming listen.
What’s remarkable about sorta obscure pieces of music such
as this is how they are distinct snapshots of the past. It’s like finding an
old polaroid hidden in a shoebox in your grandparent’s attic. There’s something
unique about it, and you can’t really overdue it on a review for an album that’s
over 20 years old and turn it into a god tier piece like how people treat bands
such as American Football and Cap’n Jazz.
The songs themselves are very personal, which one can relate
to of course. There’s a youthfulness to these recordings and that’s where the
snapshot comes in. Harken back to a perhaps simpler time of being in a band and
just freakin’ going for it; making music and telling stories, or even breaking
free from whatever bonds you might be chained to.
The only minimal complaint against this album is how low the
vocals are in the mix, but that’s nothing really. Lo-fi sounds in indie/punk
rock were common back then and still are. That’s all a matter of taste.
If you are into this type of music and want to
go back to the well from whence it came and get that pure, honest energy and
passion, check out Bells on Trike and tell others about them. Don’t over-analyze,
just listen. Dig it…