Chamberlin: Bitter Blood
Vermont’s music scene is not exactly booming. The only active band I think of from the state is Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. My other favorite Vermont bands like The Cancer Conspiracy and Drowningman have both broken up long ago. Goshen band, Chamberlin attempt to add their name to non-defunct Vermont bands worthy of committing to memory with their debut album, Bitter Blood.
Something tells me the five piece will have no problem finding people in the blogosphere who find them worthy of committing to memory. Every comparison that comes to mind as I listen to Bitter Blood is another Pitchfork promoted band. The band’s mixture of Americana and Southern rock sentiments remind me of Band of Horses and My Morning Jacket. But the band also has an anthematic arena rock feel that is reminiscent of Arcade Fire with a stronger country twang.
The album’s first single, “Dust” is fairly well representitive of the band’s sound. The track starts with lead singer, Mark Daly’s falsetto vocals that are hard not to compare with Ben Bridwell from Band of Horses. But as the song develops the group mixes in some Fleet Foxes-like harmonies and R.E.M.-esque guitar arpeggios.
These signature characteristics are pervasive throughout the album but at different points in the album the band also mixes in Muse-like drum programming and U2-esque echoed guitars. Together it all seems to work for Chamberlin. The CD is a little tamer than what I usually enjoy but the song writing is crisp and catchy and everything is so well executed that it is nearly impossible to not like.
Rating: 6.9/10
MP3: Chamberlin “Dust”
Buy: iTunes or Amazon