Search - Karate :: Bed Is in the Ocean

The "black album" of the Indie world

v-court | indianapolis, indiana United States | 10/09/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"tHis album captures Karate's sound at the cusp of thier musical evolution. The mellow-to-vigorous bedtime rockin' that trademarks their earlier work embraces the jazzy riffs and emotive atmospheres that the band has mastered on recent releases, creating a surreal musical experience in each of the nine songs that the album has to offer.sMooth bass lines, subtle-yet-solid drumming, and calculating guitar blend together through an onslaught of musical ideas, each one experimental and each one working.
Farina's freewritten lyrics conjure up sublime imagery and seem to mean something different every time you hear them, and his trademark beat-poet style of delivery only adds yet another facet to the flood of originality recorded onto this disc.bUy it and enjoy!"

The bed is in my cd-player and will never leave.

Robert Flannigan | 03/20/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I could simply write down some references to bands like Slint, Shellac, Seam, and even Cell but this album deserves more than references. This album stand for its own! First time you here it you'll probably ignore it but at that right moment you already discovered the beauty of it without knowing! Play it again and again and again and find yourself back as a junky of your own cd-player. The lyrics are like poems that goes from ears to toes up and down. The music rocks your heart out of your body but still leaves you feel jazzy-alive. After a full night of listening you only want one thing : Buy all records Geoff Farina, Karate's lead singer, ever made! Wake up and buy them!"

How to get into Karate 101.

eightpointagenda | Chicago, IL | 02/03/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Of all what I've heard of Karate's catalog(which is sans two albums, In Place of Real Insight and Some Boots which I both salivate over ever day), Bed is In the Ocean is best the synthesis of the two major elements of Karate. Its either lite-jazz rock or indie rock with jazz influence. Either one works because neither element overshadows the other. From that perspective, I think Bed is their most coheisive album yet(though not my favorite). Its got all the elements of their earliest album. Terrific musicianship and interplay between the band(very few trio's function as tightly as Karate does). A great tone and melody that fits in perfectly with Geoff's one-tone delivery. I think if there is one reoccuring element that works better here than most any other Karate album is Farina's cryptic lyrics actually are more coherent here then they are on any other album. If there were any place to start in Karate's ever morphing catalog, Bed Is In The Ocean is by far the best place to start. It covers the widest spectrum and is the best way to be eased into their sometimes confusing catalog."