CD Review

Prior to the release of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s second album, 2003’s Take Them On, On Your Own, the band was hyped to be the saviors of rock and roll. But with the advent of satellite radio and good rock and roll finally back in the fold, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s 2001 cult hit "Whatever Happened to My Rock N Roll" isn’t so vital in 2005. What better way to make yourself interesting again than with a little touch of reinvention, which BRMC delivers on their third album Howl.

On Howl, the question immediately is "what did happened to BRMC’s rock and roll?" Gone are the walls of reverb, buzzing guitars and go-go beats of earlier sounds that had made the band so fast in black. Instead Howl dresses in gothic country as the hard edged San Francisco trio shines away on mandolin, trombone, organ, piano, tambourine and vocal harmonies. On the opener "Shuffle Your Feet," the trio pleads that "time will save our souls," before churning into the hymnal organ run of the title track "Howl."

Leaders Peter Hayes and Robert Turner shake the container upside down on Howl as they mix their counterculture junk references with graceful melodies. Songs like the stark "Fault Line" and doomsday rocker "Weight of the World" will make you a believer of this new direction. The rebels take more risks and go the route of Snow Patrol with the pop dirge Promises," and mix it up with the folky harmonica laden "Complicated Situation." Although it’s surprising to hear these leather rockers drop the fuzz in 2005, Howl is certainly BRMC’s most rebellious statement to date.