There are occasions when it is tempting to wonder whether rock has reached the point where it is in a creative cul de sac; incapable of moving any further forward. Then you consider the rock albums that really pushed the envelope and created something new, that reverberates down the decades.
And the thing is, A Place To Bury Strangers give the impression that they have considered these touchstones (The Velvet Underground and Nico, Psychocandy, Loveless etc..) and have understood how wonderful and groundbreaking these albums are. But – good though this album is – I feel that there’s perhaps a bit too much wearing of seriously good influences on sleeves, rather than making it the starting point for something truly radical in its own way.
Yes, there are come great tracks on here – album opener ‘Alone’ and ‘Mind Control’ stood out for me – but as a whole, there’s the feeling after a few plays that it’s trying a little too hard to be like the groundbreaking LPs, rather than actually being one in its own right.
