Magazine Article for "As You Like It" - Marist Clubs and ...

By Mike Vizzi
With their recent release “Scrambles,”
Bomb the Music Industry! have recorded their
most ambitious album to date. For those of
you outside the loop, Bomb the Music Industry!
(BTMI) is the musical group to form out
of the ashes of the seminal Long Island-based
ska-punk band, The Arrogant Sons of Bitches.
Since their 2005 debut “Album Minus Band”,
they have released five full-length albums and
several EPs and split releases with other bands
– all of which are released for free download
from Quote Unquote Records, the industry’s
first online-only, donation-based record label.
While CD and vinyl record versions of their
albums have all been released (through Asbestos
Records and Asian Man Records), the
band makes the majority of its money from live
performances and fan donations.
Under the direction of frontman and
songwriter Jeff Rosenstock, BTMI is more of
a loose musical collective than a band; their
early albums were primarily recorded on littleto-no
budget by Rosenstock (who is a multiinstrumentalist,
playing guitar, saxophone,
keyboards and other instruments) himself, with
sporadic contributions from friends and fellow
musicians, creating a sound that blends
punk, ska, folk, hardcore, synth-pop, and a
variety of other styles into an unmistakably
unique, intensely raw, and irresistibly catchy
sound.
Since 2007’s “Get Warmer,” BTMI’s recent
recordings have taken more of a “live band”
“Scrambles”
Bomb the Music Industry
Quote Unquote Records/Asian
Man Records
Released: February 15, 2009
feel, emphasizing a wide array of musicians instead
of relying primarily on Rosenstock alone
(although the band’s recording line-up tends
to vary from song to song). The musically richer
sound is particularly noticeable in their live
show. I recently had the opportunity to see
them live at one their record release shows at
Sinclair’s Pub in West Babylon, Long Island,
at which they played the new album in its entirety
(Rosenstock introduced their set by simply
saying “This album’s called Scrambles”),
and watching the rotating cast of enthusiastic
musicians constantly going on and off stage
and switching instruments with one another
creates an exciting live show that is a must-see
for any avid concert enthusiast.
As they did on “Get Warmer”, the band
strays from the synthesizer-laced ska punk of
their earlier work, stepping into new musical
territory that is both new yet surprisingly natural
sounding. This is their most musically diverse
recording to date, from the stripped-down
“Cold Chillin’ Cold Chillin’”, which begins the
album with only acoustic guitar, distorted vocals,
and various instrumental accompaniment
vaguely reminiscent of Neutral Milk Hotel
(whose work BTMI have covered live), to piano-driven
pieces like “Fresh Attitude, Young
Body” (possibly my favorite song by the band
to date).
If I liked this album upon my first listen,
reading along to the lyrics on my second runthrough
made me fall in love with it.
Rosenstock’s lyrics on “Scrambles” take a more
cynical turn than some of his earlier work, ranging
from the harsh realities of growing into
adulthood (as evidenced in “25!”), the negative
attitudes of arrogance in the modern punk
scene (“(Shut) Up the Punx!”), and the bittersweetness
of moving (“Saddr Weirdr”), producing
some of the most genuine, heartfelt
songs he’s ever released.
Following 2007’s “Get Warmer” was no
easy task, but Jeff Rosenstock and company
have somehow managed to formulate an album
that matches (and maybe even exceeds) its predecessor
both musically and lyrically, building
on old influences and defying genre conventions.
“Scrambles” is a set of thirteen songs
packed with musical variety, humor, DIY ethic,
infectious melodies, and raw energy. If you liked
their previous albums, you’ll love this one; if
you’ve never heard of them before, and are
looking for something new and unique amidst
today’s bleak and mundane musical environment,
you just might find your new favorite
band.
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