The Bravery Album: “Stir the Blood [LP/CD]”

I gave The Bravery's last album a poor review (see my Amazon review). So I'm not a huge Bravery fan, but I have to say this album is really good. I am a big New Order, D-Mode, and Cure Fan...If you like either of these groups and want to hear something new give this album a couple listens. This album has more synth sounds and new order/cure type tones to it.....No real comparison to their last album..Much Better!!

The Bravery have had an interesting chronology since their first full release in March of 2005. Their first album was filled with synthesizer driven 80s rock with a modern twist. Clear influences of New Order and Duran Duran gave them an early fan base in New York and a quick following worldwide. Three years later, The Bravery followed in the footsteps of another new wave revival band, The Killers, and took the band in a somewhat new direction with their second CD, The Sun and the Moon. Although the singles "Believe" and "Time Won't Let Me Go" earned a great deal of radio play, the album as a whole suffered from a lack of direction. The upbeat and danceable tunes of the first album were gone and The Bravery seemed unable to choose a new formula for their sound.

With Stir the Blood, The Bravery have returned to form and have given many of their fans what they were expecting from their second album. The lead single, "Slow Poision," and "Song for Jacob" bring back the prominent snare and soaring keyboard fills that were essential to their early sound. For fans of their second album's rock influences, "Hatef--K" and "Jack-O'-Lantern Man" provide some carry over from The Bravery's sophomore release while adding some aspects from their rediscovered formula which make them a brilliant compromise of styles and perhaps a glimpse at the future of The Bravery.

Although The Bravery will easily regain a great deal of their original fan base with this album, there are a few weak spots. On "I Have Seen The Future," electronic effects overrun an otherwise decent tune perhaps in an effort to continue their nod to the decade they owe so much to. The other low point of the album is the final song which sounds like a long-forgotten Interpol B-side that was scrapped well before it was ever released.

For fans of remixes, a Best Buy exclusive version of the CD contains three remixes of Slow Poison which are all very different takes on the original and equally worthy of a listen. The Bravery may not have the same energy of their first album anymore, but Stir the Blood is still a great CD and a must own for any of their fans.

Similar Artists: The Killers, Rock Kills Kid

Track Suggestion: Song For Jacob

Sam Endicott and company can profess their originality all they want, but the plain facts are they have yet to do more than ape their heroes. I mean, how close to The Cure, Joy Division and Duran Duran do you want to be? They still haven't brought something fresh to the 80's New Wave revivalist scene. In fact, Sam's vocals can get downright annoying. I still feel these guys are posturing, that they don't have what it takes to transcend to the next level musically. Three albums that are all pretty much the same in sound and quality. Not bad, not great, just average. I'd rather listen to White Lies from Great Britain, or Arcade Fire from Canada, or even Interpol from New York. The Bravery really need a producer who will push them (or dress them up if they lack the talent).

"Adored", "Slow Poison", "Hatef--k", "The Spectator", "I Have Seen The Future" and "Red Hands and White Knuckles" are all decent, but lack inspiration. I liked them, they were innocuous. The standout track belongs to "Song For Jacob"--it has an interesting melody and menacing lyrics that really work to the band's strengths. "Jack-O-Lantern Man" is ho hum, and "She's So Bendable" and "Sugar Pill" felt thrown away. The best thing about The Bravery is that all of their albums are short, so it's over before you have a chance to get bored.

What I'd like to see in the future (if the band does another album) is some risk taking. The band has not produced a near perfect album yet. All of their albums are uneven, with filler tracks. The band needs to concentrate on songwriting and song structure--they have style and bravado, now they just need to back it up.

Here's how "Stir The Blood" compares to their other albums:

2005 The Bravery: Three and a Half Stars

2007 The Sun and the Moon: Three Stars

2009 Stir the Blood: Three and a Half Stars

The bravery is one of those bands that are good but you wish they could be better. Sure this band picks up alot of inspiration from 80s groups like the cure, new order, duran duran, etc but the bravery tend to do their own style. Since their debut album the bravery seems to have one big song for example from their debut the hit song was "An Honest Mistake" their sophomore effort "Time Wont Let Me Go" on "Stir The Blood" the band has a little more catchy songs then their previous album which is why this album is better then the previous. Stir The Blood does have a hard hitter and is my favorite song on here, a song called "I am Your Skin" which is possibly their best song. There are other strong songs on here the opener "ADORED" "SONG FOR JACOB", "SLOW POISON" are some of the albums highlights. Stir the blood is a stronger album then their previous effort and thats always a good thing. If you have enjoyed the bands first two albums then this is a good follow up and should be part of your collection. I give this album 4 stars only because some of the songs later on the album do start to lack and it sounds like some songs were pushed to be there or as if the band ran out of ideas. If i could i would give it 3 1/2 but 4 is reasonable because its not an okay album its a cd that you like and you want to love but something in the band and the album doesnt let you do so.

I've enjoyed the Bravery ever since I discovered their track "Believe" and it shot to the top of my playlists, securing its place as my all time favorite. However, despite enjoying most of their self-titled debut album, and thought (along with many others) "The Sun and the Moon" to be a bit disappointing. After I heard that a new album would be coming out, I excitedly listened to the singles as they were released, but save for the awkwardly titled "Hatef**k," did not really enjoy them (and although I thought Hatef**k to be darkly catchy, the Hindert-directed music video that hit YouTube was enough to severely creep me out).

Still, I wanted to give this album a chance, so I snagged it the day it was released and gave it a listen, while playing Forza 3 on a frigid winter day in my college apartment. I must say that I really enjoyed it.

Like most albums, I don't like EVERY song on Stir the Blood. Again, the two singles "Sugar Pill" and "Slow Poison" don't really suit me, but I really enjoy "I Am Your Skin," "Hatef**k," "I Have Seen the Future," and "Red Hands and White Knuckles." The Bravery has really done a good job putting an eclectic mix on here and I think it is a notable improvement from The Sun and the Moon, though "Believe" is still the most solid song they have made, in my opinion.

This album was a welcome return to form by the Bravery and I definitely enjoy it.