Bush The Sea of Memories

As you know, your band, Bush, has just released its sophomore album, Razorblade Suitcase. I'm one of the few people who enjoyed it. Critics thought it was a drawn out, failed effort and fans thought it was pretty mediocre. Everybody seems to agree that it's no Sixteen Stone, as do I, but that doesn't mean it's bad, right? Steve Albini's production style is a great match for the band's fairly raw grunge sound and your voice is at, let's be honest, its expressive peak. I mean, the album's about twenty minutes too long but it's interesting and, most of all, it's unique. But, as a pompous messenger from the future, it's my job to inform you that Bush is gonna start sucking. Hard.

Not only could your name have come at a worse time with the soon-to-be most hated president in recent history sharing the title and many pubic puns, but you're also going to start experimenting with a layered, less grunge sound. Hell, you're going to come out with a boring, techno remix album. You're not Lady Gaga--well, you don't know who she is yet. We barely do. The point is, as a fan I'm asking you to straighten up. The band's going to break up and reunite for 2011's The Sea of Memories. It's not good, Gavin. Nigel Pulsford, the lead guitarist (I'm hoping you know this since you're in a band with the dude), isn't coming back for the reunion after his departure in '02 and Bush isn't Bush without Nigel. It's missing half its driving force at this point. Luckily, you nab founding drummer Robin Goodridge, but after that the lineup is just a fill-in guitarist from the past when the group's meltdown began (Chris Traynor) and a new bassist no one really knows (Corey Britz.)

The album starts off with what is probably the best new Bush song, The Mirror of the Signs. Some interesting feedback effects and a cool back beat with nice vocals and wah-wah guitar give experimental expectations you can't match. You set the tone "We're sticking to the failed The Science of Things Bush, but we've learned from our mistakes and are making it interesting this time 'round." Not what any fan from the past hoped for, but it's also not the worst situation, right? Well, with that song you made a false promise, Gavin. Soon we are forced to delve into the mediocrity that is The Sound of Winter, which is one of the few tunes that gives us a semi-reminiscent Sixteen Stone vibe throughout the verses that melt into an unfortunate chorus as forgettable as the rest of the album. Next up is All My Life, which has a grossly Nickelback sounding power chord riff with the exception of an interesting high-pitched effect and some surprisingly swagger vocals. These can't make up for the chorus you borrowed from every other modern rock song and some trite lyrics ("All my life/I've been waiting for this moment" -- We have too, and it's not very fulfilling thus far.) The following tunes Afterlife (dance club pop-rock bullshit), All Night Doctors (bad power ballad much?), Baby Come Home (see title for a taste of the "dude, c'mon" quality) and Red Light (forget about it) are just as cheesy as you think they'll be.

Upon hitting tracks number seven (I Believe In You; I used to until you guys followed up some "meh" albums with this "very meh" album), eight (She's a Stallion, a song with a promising and dark guitar riff the rest of the song can't live up to) and nine (Stand Up -- it is my advice that you do not; the song isn't good enough to warrant that excitement), we've realized that you're all settling on songs that we're going to forget in ten minutes. The album doesn't finish on a strong note either, with the tunes The Heart of the Matter and Be Still My Love, which may not be as cringe inducing as a few others, but aren't ones to be proud of.

My summary? Your lyrics have taken a dump since the trippy and incoherent (in a good way) days of the mid '90s; the band as a whole feels together with who is remaining but lacks a leading piece (Pulsford), thus resulting in music that's not as present as it should be. The Sea of Memories, though not the worst of the year, certainly doesn't rank towards the top. It's a mediocre album, and I'm only being hard on you because I sincerely wanted more. Like a pissy parent, I'm not mad at you... I'm disappointed.

Sincerely,

A hopeful fan of the past.