Review: The Blacks – In Sickness And Health
The Blacks, in a way, represent a kind of enviable place when it comes to making a return. They’d formed in 1994 and got signed to Bloodshot Records. They cut two albums: 1998′s Dolly Horrorshow and 2000′s Just Like Home. Then, they took the aughts off. Their new EP, In Sickness and Health (available as a download on bloodshotrecords.com and places that sell digital music) is a reunion record. “Apparently,” I said, when I first read that. They’re new to me. Their place is enviable because that time off is, yes, enough time to be forgotten (Two albums but not a Wikipedia page? Unheard of!), but at least come back to some fan base without the huge expectations of your Led Zeppelins or Pink Floyds. The time they had to grow and be a band gives them the space and musical ability to uppercut a first-time listener with just how right this music feels.
My closest approximation: think of the band Spoon, especially Britt Daniel’s voice. Lead singer/guitarist Dan Black’s voice sounds a bit like it. Now add some twang and make them much looser without sacrificing tight songwriting. Add some female vocals (Nora O’Connor). That’d be a good first impression word painting of this band. There’s a looseness that’s old school in an age where every band seems to be run through a computer. In Sickness and Health‘s core four songs all rise up from a certain swagger. They’re rhythm driven with hooks to keep you there. They make up an assured “fuck yeah we’re back!” that’s hard to disagree with.
But wait! There are two more songs on this thing. The first and last song are soft songs, titled “Ten Years” and “If It All Falls Through,” respectively. It’s a bit obvious, and I wonder how big an audience would get it without reading their biography on the label’s website. They’re good songs, but they also pale in comparison what’s in between: a band doing what it’s meant to do. “If It All Falls Through” is the more notable of the two, since it’s a vocal showcase for O’Connor, but I’d take the preceding “Bottled and Flat” and “Young and Beautiful” over it.
It’s hard to complain about anything here, though. At less than 20 minutes, In Sickness and Health is a quick and easy digest. “Ten Years” barely registers before “I’m in Love” begins. But it’s definitely a worthy comeback album that acknowledges that it is a comeback album. None of that “Don’t call it a comeback!” or “We never left!” or “I was busy doing other shit! Here! Look at the other shit I’ve been doing! Please believe me!” stuff. This EP is the sound of a band that knows there’s work to be done, and maybe that work might not pay off in terms of tickets or downloads. But they’ve got the skills to do that work well, and hopefully people will listen.
[The Blacks will be playing Schubas this Saturday (3/06) in Chicago. Tickets are $12 and it's a 21+ show. Doors open at 10pm, and Assault strongly recommends you show up - the Blacks are legendary for tearing serious shit up, and Schubas is so small that you'll probably get hit in the face with a huge chunk of rock 'n' roll glory. You can buy tickets here.]
The Blacks:
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Jere is not from Chicago. Nor is he from Parts Unknown. But he sure loves to hear things. Follow him on Twitter! Email this Author | All posts by Jere
[...] be cranking out some tunes from his new solo record, backed by Danny Black (from Assault favorites The Blacks). The show is 21+ and tickets are $12($14 at the door). The show starts at [...]