Search - Bleach :: Audio / Visual (W/Dvd)

Bleach Brings Back the Baseline!!!

Ben Judy | Denton, TX USA | 10/25/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bleach was simply the best melodic modern rock band of all time. Shame they didn't amass a larger following, but then again it's probably more fun being a fan since their relative obscurity allowed them to maintained a level of genuine authenticity throughout their career. The band members made friends out of their fans in a way most bigger bands simply couldn't. This feeling of familiarity pervades their music. It feels like your kid brother's garage band -- if they suddenly could really write and play, and had access to a decent recording studio. It's indie without being indie, if that makes any sense.



For those already familiar with Bleach, I need not review the audio disc. It's a humble collection of some of their best, with a few new surprises thrown in for fun. The track order seems to roughly follow them chronologically from the early days to the end. One could certainly debate the track selection (where are "Once Again Here We Are" and "Sufficient"!?), but I won't do that here. Instead I'll recommend you pick up any of their six studio albums you might be missing!



I'll also briefly mention that I was at the farewell show in Nashville on August 29, 2004, when the video DVD was recorded. An amazing show. Bittersweet. Loud. Long. A perfect farewell. Just amazing.



Now for those who have never heard Bleach, I will compare their sound to that of Weezer or Jimmy Eat World. Guitar-driven modern rock that makes you smile (and - once in a while - melancholy, but always with a hint of hope just over the horizon). Mostly bouncy, hook-filled rock that makes you want to jump around. And then the occasional sweet, barebones ballad so simply yet skillfully constructed you can't escape the deep emotion behind every word.



The things that set Bleach apart for me were their awesome live show (thus making the DVD an exciting part of this offering) and their superb songwriting. These guys know how to assemble catchy tunes that you can't get out of your head! After one listen you'll be humming some of these tunes for days.



Additionally, Bleach lyrics run far deeper than most. You will find themes such as true joy in the midst of pain, friendship, and redemption handled with a directness, maturity, and authenticity that will draw you in. Their more worshipful tunes exalt the name of Jesus and the goodness of God without ever being cliché or trite. There isn't a hint of the plastic, too-happy, good-time Sunday School "cheese" that sadly pervades a lot of modern Christian music, especially in this genre. These guys were real; they wore their Midwestern down-home humility on their sleeves. Their genuine, fun-loving warmth and simple humanity come across in every song.



These boys went through some hard times individually and as a band. Notably, the death of Cpt. Josh Byers (brother of drummer Jared and guitarist Milam, and close Bleach supporter) in Iraq, 2003, was a hugely painful event for the entire band. Through their pain they held fast to their hope in Christ, and then went into the studio to pour it all out with a passion and true determination that comes across loud and clear, especially in the tracks recorded towards the end of their career.



"There is hope for the hopeless / There are mansions for the meek / There is life after this life / The pure in heart will receive..."



I highly recommend this disc to anyone who likes quality, melodic, American, guitar-driven rock 'n' roll with few frills. As vocalist Davy sings in their career-closing track "Farewell Old Friends":



"This has been the best it could have been...""

Miss 'em already

Matthew H. Edmundson | St. Louis, MO United States | 11/07/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great product mostly for the first track and the Live DVD at Rocketown you get. These tracks are a great group of songs that represent this band to its fullest. Each song is an example of the type of music Bleach experimented with during its tenure. Bleach does have it's own sound but it's influences are easily recognizable...bands like Weezer or Audio A. I'm not a big fan of "greatest hits" albums cause it's an easy way to make money off tracks you've already recorded. Again, with the DVD and the three new tracks it's worth your cash. The only reason I gave this product a four is because most of the songs on the DVD seem very rushed, outside of the opening song Patience. It's a bit dissapointing because I attended Bleach's real last concert which was a bennifit show in March 05 at Rocketown. That performance was perfect ('cept when the lead singer started talking about his dream of being lost at sea with CD labels floating in the water...TMI!) So, I know they put on a good live show, it's just that this live show seemed to contain songs that were all played too fast. Minor complaint, but in the end this product is a good buy."