Search - Black Eyes :: Cough

As go the liars, so go black eyes

Kyle Shank | 08/05/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Just as with the latest release from Mute's The Liars, 2004's "They were wrong, so we drowned", the latest offering from the now defunct Dischord anarchists Black Eyes is almost unlistenable when taken in context to their earlier releases. Whereas the previous Black Eyes EP and self-titled LP were like taking a pair of screaming toddlers to a punk rock aerobics course, "Cough" is a bit more akin to taking those same said toddlers to a music store and letting them run amidst the stands, playing whatever it is they like, regardless of their skill levels.



Enough metaphor.



"Cough" opens with one of the most annoying trends in music--the intro track, which true to it's very nature is just as necessary as a kick in the face. Once past this, however, we launch into what we expect from Black Eyes--chaos. However, now the group has added a new dynamic to their sound: brass instruments. These instruments add an unexpected new dimension to the sound, de-emphasizing the erratic guitar work of the last album and shifting much more of the focus to the vocals and drums, which on some occassions ("Eternal Life", "Another Country") work to the songs benefits, and which on others ("Scrapes and Scratches")almost becomes unbearable in their assault.



But besides the addition of a few more sounds sonically, the bands lyrical focus has shifted as well. Their self-titled debut covered a variety of topics, from politics to homosexuality, redemption to (in an odd incarnation) love. This album, though, almost specifically focuses on the way individuals deal with religion in society, partially given away by the inclusion of biblical verses into several of the songs on this record. Not being particularly religious, I can't offer much interpretation or argument, all i can state is that their intense shift in focus may have something to do with the decomposition of the band.



Having experienced Black Eyes in a live setting several times, including their last show, I can say that (also, like The Liars) one must experience these songs live to fully appreciate their intensity. It is truly sad that we no longer have that opportunity.



Oh well. You can always go and see White Flight."

DC hip.

The Caster Kid | L...Caster PA. | 05/23/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Your first listen to 'Cough' by the Black Eyes will probably leave you confused and a little bothered. Why? Well because Cough couldn't possible make sense on your first listen. This cd spins a sound defined by chaotic bandwork and vocals that range from chanting to singing to talking to yelling and at times, all of these sounds at once. The rhythms seem like contradictions and the guitar work sounds like it may have been imported from another album entirely. Take your pots and pans , walk to the top of your stairs and drop those bastards down. Now rant and rave with a horn section behind you coaxing you on, daring you to tread closer to madness. Now imagine all of this unified by dark and hip bass work and you may be listening to Cough."

Brilliant

The Caster Kid | 09/03/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a brilliant release from Black Eyes; It's a shame that they broke up after this. They truly had a great thing going -- Double Bass, Double Drums, and a single guitary, whose only purpose seems to add noise. Now, mix all that in with 2 singers (well 5 total, but only 2 people are listed singing in the lyric book.) Now, one of these singers has a fairly normal voice, and the other main singer...well, he has an impossibly High voice and he talks faster than ANY singer i've ever heard.



All of this is combined with something that wasn't there in their Self Titled release; brass instruments, which add a whole new layer of chaos. Their whole sound is basically a form of Free Jazz with a touch of Noise...and it sounds great in the end.



The lyrics are amazing; creative word play, combined with bible verses.



While I liked their self titled release more, this is an excellent album, with a slightly different sound. If you liked their first release, you'll love this."