ScreamingBloodyMess.com reviews Low Rises
www.screamingbloodymess.com, June 16, 2006
Warren
As is common, Baby Ray formed from the ashes of a number of other local acts that had, for one reason or another, disbanded; the phrase 'creative differences' is usually bandied about in such situations.
In Baby Ray's case the disbanded acts were Brain Helicopter and Tweety UK. Neither of these names means fuck all to me, but they may mean something to somebody else.
Irrespective of their humble and obscure beginnings, the Boston-based quartet now play an unusual style of pop-infused rock (or perhaps rock-infused pop) that incorporates influences from The Beatles, Radiohead, Low, XTC, Archers of Loaf and Guided By Voices. Shit, there's even a bit of latter-day Soundgarden in there.
Pop-based melodies are thrown atop alt rock riffs with prog-influenced time changes, and manic mood shifts. 'Idiots Are Out' is the albums' highlight with its ironic lyrics and driving beat. 'Superbutch' takes on an Elvis Costello-styled new wave approach, whereas the similarly named 'Superbitch' is an altogether unrelated affair with dragging riffs creating a monotonic and depressive mood, before lifting into celebratory mode towards the tail-end.
Deserving of repeated listens, Low Rises makes more sense with each spin, though some of the time changes throw you no matter how familiar you become. The band have called themselves 'pop gone wrong', while onlookers have labeled them prog-poppers. Either way, Low Rises is a damn fine listen that takes on a life of its' own.