nike shox oz 2 ReviewFlock, by Bell X1 Irish Band

graci728zn

Album
Flock is a moody, quixotic blend of charming anecdotes, unabashed admiration and possible memories. Mix that in with layered instrumentation and experimental chirping electronics, and you have got one top-selling album. “Flame”, a chirpy, disco-esque shanty that is reminiscent of The Killers, is one of those jaunty tunes that just digs into your brain until you can’t sit still. Frontman Paul Noonan’s smooth vocals are almost as suave as his unabashed proclamations of adoration. A truly Irish love story, “Rocky Takes a Lover” relates the tale of the town tramp, who can be a bit of a monster when drunk—but a bit of a charmer in the morning. This track is slightly calmer than “Flame”, but the innocent strums of harp complimenting the generous use of cymbals and chimes, it is far from boring. “Bad Skin Day” is a brilliantly sweet yet vulnerable admission of insecurity. Noonan questions, “When I wake in the morning/ Of a bad skin day/And I can't face my lover/On a bad skin day/Am I this alone?” With sentiment to spare, there is no wonder that Flock is the number-one selling album in the whole of the Green Isle.
US Promoting and TourIn January 2008, Bell X1 began promoting the release of Flock in the US. The group played a gig at Joe's Pub in New York City, and also appeared on Conan O'Brian. Bell X1 will return to the North America for a tour in March, performing all over the US, including stops in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Oregon, California [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], Washington, and Illinois.
<
Background
Formerly known as Juniper, the band split when former vocalist Damien Rice broke off to pursue a solo career. After a brief separation period, front man Paul Noonan, Brian Crosby, Dominic Philips and David Geraghty reunited to form Bell X1. Unlike many bands, the departure of the lead vocalist was not the death of the group. Of course, the road to success afterwards was anything but rainbows and sunshine—there were the obligatory years of brutal anonymity, and the frustratingly endless hours of hard work. Even when the group started to grow in popularity, they were still unintentionally slighted—Irish chat show host Eamon Dunphy introduced them as “Bell Life”, and even Pat Kenny introduced them as “Bell Eleven”. Now, Bell X1 are well known as one of the best musical acts in the whole of Ireland—second only to U2
This week, the quirky quintet hailing from North Kildare County, Ireland, released the US version of their five-time platinum scoring album, Flock. Released in Ireland in 2005 and the UK in 2006, Flock is the follow up album to the band’s Music in Mouth, released in 2003, and Neither Am I, an album only released in Ireland in 2000. With four tracks from this album landing on Ireland’s charts, things finally started looking up Bell X1.
After years of hard work and more than a few slaps in their pretty faces, it looks like Bell X1 is finally receiving some long-awaited good karma.
Bell X1 has been likened to such bands as Radiohead, Coldplay, and U2, but really, the group has their own unique and diverse sound. With their characteristic pounding rhythms [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], driving guitar rifts and bittersweet melodies, Bell X1 is more straightforward and much more upbeat than their musical colleagues. Thanks to Noonan’s fantastic vocal style and each band member’s multi-instrumental talents, this album is an absolute gold mine [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], a must-have for any true Alternative/Indie fan.
Read on
Damien Rice Album Review - O
Irish Beer Drinking Favorites CD Review
Bell X1: A Brief Biography
Sound