Considering that the Beastie Boys were a fledgling punk group before they were rappers and MCA (Adam Yauch) was often seen slam-dancing front and center at Bad Brains' legendary early performances, he would seem the perfect candidate to produce and resurrect the newly reunited group. In truth, he does a fantastic job capturing Bad Brains on Build a Nation, and they rock nearly as hard as they did in their glory days before they switched to funk metal -- Yauch explained that his goal was to replicate the raw sound that he remembers from their live shows and the first self-titled Reach Out International Records tape. Although the group recalls some of its best hardcore roots with an added concrete-shattering low end not found in a lot of its early recordings, the problem is that frontman H.R. simply doesn't have the energy or larynx that he once did, and has to resort to a lower octave and sing in an Anthony Kiedis "Give It Away" vocal style. But who can blame him? It was over 25 years ago when he unleashed his furious shriek and wide array of spastic crooning voices, and it takes a young man's fire to spew microphone venom with that ferocity. Often, he moans his vocal lines in an imitation Lee Perry eggae voice (even on the punkier songs) and has to resort to a lot more studio trickery and delays to make up for his lack of dynamics.
This washy style of singing doesn't always feel completely appropriate, but it fits perfectly when the Brains flip the switch to their eggae grooves, which now sound more authentic than ever. This should be no surprise since their last album consisted of only dub music, and their yellow, red, and green album art looks remarkably like a Marley bootleg with a track listing that includes "Natty Dreadlocks 'Pon the Mountaintop" and "Jah People Make the World Go Round." Since the album was recorded at the B-Boys' Oscilloscope Laboratories, many of the eggae numbers have elements of the Beasties' instrumentals on The Mix Up; it sounds like keyboardist-for-hire Jamie Saft may have borrowed Money Mark's organ while Yauch added some of the percussive instruments laying around the room for a few numbers. Even when the washed-out dubby vocals coincide with thrashing guitars, the heavy songs work remarkably well, too. The combination of the two styles makes for an interesting result, especially in "Let There Be Angels (Just Like You)" and "Universal Peace." While Bad Brains never quite match the intensity of their early days, this is easily the best record they've released since Quickness, and maybe even since I Against I. Fans of H.R., Gary, Darryl, and Earl should be happy to hear that they're finally back on track and sounding relevant again.
Maybe because it's been sooo long since they had a quality release, but more likely it's because they got some nice rasta vibes working in this one as well as the thrashers, complete with Dr. Know's menacing and crunchy lines (I always kinda feel like I'm listening to a hardcore and scarier version of that sound you'd hear in the Jaws film just as someone was about to be torn up).I did a brief ...
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...Attention all of you green-hair-faded-grey punk rockers, Bad Brains have returned to replenish the ranks of the faithful with the LP Build a Nation, scheduled to hit the streets on June 26th so lets dive right on into the fray...the set begins with the appropriately titled "In the Beginning" which sails on out of the speakers informing the listener that the Brains are back and the album high...
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...Attention all of you green-hair-faded-grey punk rockers, Bad Brains have returned to replenish the ranks of the faithful with the LP Build a Nation, scheduled to hit the streets on June 26th so lets dive right on into the fray...the set begins with the appropriately titled "In the Beginning" which sails on out of the speakers informing the listener that the Brains are back and the album high...
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at 5:20 pacific 8:20 here i will raise my grepsi in honor of our beloved CRASHfriends and others will be gathering to toast and honor himof course i can only be there in spiritthat goddamned grape soda EXPLODED ON MY ASShahaha not to kool on the cell n ipod thoughone last time for you bruthachillax now,you hear son?
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With their new video making the rounds "(as previously reported)":CH, Bad Brains will be on the West Coast promoting their new album.??Build a Nation?? was released on June 26 via Megaforce Records. The group's first proper studio CD in over a decade features all the original members: HR, Darryl Jenifer, Dr. Know and Earl Hudson.Sep. 22 - Street Scene (Coors Amphitheatre), San Diego CASep. 24 -...
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The first video off the new Bad Brains album,??Build a Nation??(Megaforce), has been completed and can be viewed below. As previously reported, System Of A Down bassist Shavo Odadjian directed the effort, which is a video combination of two songs, "Give Thanks and Praises" and "Jah Love". Bad Brains "Give Thanks and Praise/ Jah Love"Shot at the Sasquatch Festival and also Portland Oregon by fa...
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After nearly 10 years without an album, one of the definitive punk/hardcore bands from the 80's, "Bad Brains" are back. ??Build A Nation?? (Megaforce) has been described as a "raw, analog-driven chaotic album"."The BRAINS are one of most powerful and unique bands in the world," stated Adam Yauch, producer of ??Build A Nation??, member of the Beastie Boys and confessed longtime fan. "They have b...
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in the same category as such mis-heard song titles as "Scuse me while I kiss this guy", my wife interpreted Bad Brains "Jah Love" as Jello Love.I think she's right. And I do love some jello!
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Some Bad Brains, Until Kingdom Comes,, and then the Easy All-Stars dub covers of Dark Side of the Moon,, or "Dub Side of the Moon" sweet!http://www.megaforcerecords.com/badbrains/Build%20a%20Nation%20cover.bmp!
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build a nation which came out several months ago. first impressions are that this album is not for bad brain newbies. i dig it, but ive been a fan for way fucking long. the reggae is pretty standard reggae...it goes from the lovers rock vibe of jah love to the phat ganj beats of roll on...the hardcore is crunchy and tight...here is my fave reggae track and ill post the hardcore title track b...
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heres a hardcore track off the new album....discusslater,don
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Yep, that's right folks. Bad Brains is giving everyone the chance to stream their new album ??Build A Nation?? (Megaforce)."As previously reported":CH, this album is sort of a big deal for most punk fans. Bad Brains shows to us that they have a place in today's musical landscape as much as they did when they started 30 years ago. The album was produced by long time friend Beastie Boys’ Adam
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Knowing Crash made me one of the cool kids.Cos it was one thing to be one of his Trusted MOGgers. No small thing, but - to have him comment on your MOG: quick, with wit, often with joy, inducing a laugh. Aah, yeah, there, son. You've made it.But it always felt so terribly selfish. He wrote. He wrote a lot. He wrote so much that post rarely could fit only on the MOG page. So there you go, headin...
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Anyone heard it yet? They're on the road, and they got a new album, Build A Nation, produced by Adam Yauch.Let us know!
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Maybe because it's been sooo long since they had a quality release, but more likely it's because they got some nice rasta vibes working in this one as well as the thrashers, complete with Dr. Know's menacing and crunchy lines (I always kinda feel like I'm listening to a hardcore and scarier version of that sound you'd hear in the Jaws film just as someone was about to be torn up).I did a brief ...
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Nothing too profound here yet, I'm still grabbing my bearings for this wacky site and figuring everything out...here's just a new track from Bad Brains. The fact that they don't have "punk" as a genre is just fucking pathetic.
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This is a new raw (still being remastered) studio cut from Bad Brains new upcoming album titled "Build a Nation". It's being produced by Adam Yauch (MCA of the Beastie Boys), who by the way also considers Bad Brains the greatest band of all time as well :)I figured that since this track was leaked a couple of weeks ago, and since Henry Rollins also played it on his radio show that it'd be cool ...
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 "Build a Nation")
