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They have clawed their way back with an album encapsulating much of what initially made them such an exciting group.
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Baby 81 is simply BRMC doing what they do best, and for the first time since their debut record six years ago they actually sound like a band that enjoyed themselves while making this album.
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Given it's gestation, it's fairly amazing that Baby 81 wasn't stillborn. To find it's kicking with such vigor is little short of remarkable.
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A masterful little work of sonic soundscapes, dark edges, muted colors, and low, simmering sexuality.
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The righteous Southern revival swagger of these electrified riffs collect over Jago’s drums to rain down the real rawk people have mistakenly praised Kings Of Leon for providing, absolutely destroying them at their own game.
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Whatever happened to BMRC's rock & roll? Sounds like they found it.
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Baby 81 is a wicked crystallization of all the sounds on the first album, tightened up and brightened up and even louder and more textured.
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Baby 81 isn’t nearly as complete as Howl despite their admirable willingness to try different things.
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Revolutionary? Not really. But another strong turn.
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In the context of their seemingly blinkered attempts at finding some source of inspiration they've produced an entertainingly atmospheric, melodic record to bracing and accessible effect.
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The creative engine has stalled on Baby 81.
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MojoBaby 81 finds a band evolving past expectations into a newly intriguing proposition. [Jun 2007, p.101]
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UncutBRMC seem invincible; or back to their searing best, at any rate. [May 2007, p.87]
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UrbStill clenching its beloved Americana, BRMC spits a familiar noise that has transformed from a mountain of stifling volume into a dense layering of sophisticated references. [May 2007, p.93]
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Q MagazineOn tracks such as single Weapon Of Choice, Berlin, 666 Conductor and Need Some Air, BRMC can show anyone a clean set of scuffed heels. [May 2007, p.123]
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Spin[BRMC] have never sounded more self-assured. [May 2007, p.84]
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Alternative PressThe bulk of Baby 81 draws from the dark underbelly of the Woodstock generation. [Jun 2007, p.156]
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FilterBaby 81 is the offspring of all three albums. [#25, p.96]
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MagnetBaby 81 finds BRMC back in control of the street corner, cigarette squints and rock'n'roll swagger intact. [Summer 2007, p.90]
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"Baby 81" isn't an all-out fuzz free-for-all, though, and the California trio retains some of the gentler ideas it explored last time out.
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The songwriting isn’t BRMC’s most memorable, but Baby 81’s noise-roots fumes are pretty thick.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 48 out of 59
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Mixed: 8 out of 59
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Negative: 3 out of 59
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May 14, 2011
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AfrofromAbove1979Jul 27, 2007
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PaulFJul 16, 2007Wow, I thought BRMC's earlier albums were amazing - this totally blows them out of the water. Absolutely fantastic!