The Black Angels were among the first bands to begin popularizing what has become a massive resurgence of the psychedelic genre. Not that they reinvented the genre, which has certainly remained alive since its birth in the 1960s, but they were pioneers of its modern popularity. This week, the band released Indigo Meadow, their fifth full-length, continuing their tendency to produce stark, gritty psychedelic rock.
Many of the album’s best tracks are stacked early in the record. On the first three songs the band works psychedelic production within a streamlined rock/pop framework utilizing powerful rhythmic bursts. On the opener and title track, singer Alex Maas delivers the vocal hook, “Always indigo, always indigo” over marchy snare. “Evil Things” is built on punishing effected guitar lines and farfisa over Maas’ distinct voice. In its final minute, the song takes the distortion up a level for an expansive conclusion. Sounding like a more psychedelic version of the Pixies, “Don’t Play With Guns” has Maas delivering talky verses interspersed with a sing-song chorus hook, where he chimes, “Don’t play with guns, don’t play with guns.”
It’s on these tracks that the band delivers the most developed tracks. Many of the other songs on the record harken back to the earlier days of psychedelia, and a couple, “The Day” and “You’re Mine” sound like a heavier version of The Zombies. Others, “Love Me Forever” and “War On Holiday” for example, feel like rough drafts that could benefit from more intense workshopping. The eerie minimalism of closer “Black Isn’t Black” emerges as another avenue the band pursues. It feels like offering either the pop of “You’re Mine” or the weirdness of “Black Isn’t Black” could work, but coupled to finish the record, they’re and odd pair. Similarly, it doesn’t feel the record needs 13 tracks, and might be stronger by focusing on some of the most promising songs.
Thematically, Indigo Meadow clearly addresses the issue of war, with titles such as “Broken Soldier” and “War On Holiday.” Early critics dismissed this attempt, but I, for one, am happy to see that someone in rock ‘n’ roll is still raising the issue. Psych rock specifically has longstanding traditions of political protest. It seems that complacency has dawned on the American people in recent years–as though we aren’t still engaged in warfare on a daily basis. Raising the issue is commendable, even if the songs abstract any truly biting criticism.
The Black Angels have produced some solid songs on Indigo Meadow, expanding their repertoire if not their technique. Later this month, The Black Angels will host the 6th annual installment their own Austin Psych Fest, featuring many bands who have developed the psychedelic genre in recent years as well as past greats like The Moving Sidewalks. As torchbearers and ambassadors of psychedelia who can put together forceful albums, The Black Angels are a band who command respect.
