On their second full-length album, Union, the Anglo-American band the Boxer Rebellion continue to sound like U2 as fronted by Radiohead's Thom Yorke. The British rhythm section of bassist Adam Harrison and drummer Piers Hewitt sets up simple, repetitive patterns for each track, over which Australian guitarist Todd Howe plays simple, shimmering sequences that fill up the sound picture. On top is American singer Nathan Nicholson, singing in a whiny tenor disconnected lyrics, usually directed at a "you" who seems to be an unhappy love interest, expressing charges of betrayal and the overall inadequacies of life. The songs tend to build in intensity, without the tension being broken until the end. It's easy to imagine this working in concert, even if, on disc, the relentlessness can be wearing. ~ William Ruhlmann
Rovi
ポップトーンズの閉鎖に伴い、デビュー直後に所属レーベルを失うという辛苦を乗り越えて、口コミだけでふたたび這い上がってきた彼ら。そんななか、今年1月に自主制作盤として配信されるや某オルタナ・チャートで1位を記録した2作目が、ここ日本で初めてパッケージ化です。甘美なギター・ノイズとエモーショナルな歌声が織り成すポップの福音――レディオヘッドも認めたその奇跡を、ぜひ体感してください。
bounce (C)冨田明宏
タワーレコード(vol.312(2009年07月25日発行号)掲載)