Emerging Nashville punk-rock quartet Bully have released one of 2015’s more interesting records so far. After finding some success with a self-titled EP, the band rerecorded tracks for their debut, entitled Feels Like. Many will find the record to be both abrasive and joyful. Some will find it to go by a little too fast. Some won’t. Regardless, one thing every listener can agree on is that Feels Like is definitely a record to be noticed.
Opener “I Remember” kicks things into high gear as vocalist Alicia Bognanno yells through a lo-res filter “I remember my old habits, I remember getting too f**ked up, And I remember throwing up in your car”. It’s blunt and attention-getting, and it’s backed by instrumentation that’s borderline surf-punk. Clocking in at just under 2 minutes, it’s a nice precursor for what’s to come. “Reason” follows in a similar but less-aggressive fashion. The vocal harmonies stand out quite well, and the underlying, nearly ethereal guitar in the bridge is a nice touch. While it’s not the most unique track on the record, it’s highly enjoyable. “Too Tough” is a little more laid back but it’s still a highlight of the first half of the record. It’s a nice bookend to following track ‘Brainfreeze”. The vocals are a little clearer and the overall instrumentation is a little more accessible that some of the previous tracks. I enjoy the subtle aggression in Bognanno’s vocals on this track. It’s the perfect balance of attitude and calmness. “Trying” was the first track I heard from Bully, and I was hooked by what I was hearing. The track is almost like a hybrid of Duffy, Sleater-Kinney & Nirvana. The buildup with the guitars in the bridge closes out the song well.
The bass groove that starts the second-half of the record belongs to “Trash”, another blunt cut from this record. The melodic distortion on the guitars is one of my favorite moments of the album, and combined with Bognanno’s bellowing near the end, it’s a very nice contrast to the subtle, reserved soundscapes this track evoked near the beginning. “Six” is both melodic and crisp. Like some of the earlier cuts, it’s quick and jarring, and the lyricism is a little introspective at times, so it requires multiple listens to grasp its overall nature. At this point in the record, “Picture” could easily be brushed aside as filler to some, but the aggression in the chorus keeps the listener entertained. “Milkman” speeds things up again. It’s a nice change of pace as it’s more bubblegum punk and melodic than the rest of the record, which makes me happy. There is a little bit of aggression here for those that want it, particularly at the very end when Bognanno yells “I used to be a shark” multiple times. Feels Like closes with a self-titled track of sorts, “Bully”. There’s not much left to the imagination here, but it’s not a bad closer.
It definitely takes numerous listens to fully appreciate Feels Like. There’s some monotony underlying in every track, but what Bully lacks in originality it makes up for in melody and abrasion. It might not be one of your top records of the year, but it’s definitely worth a listen.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04QhNfSprCs[/youtube]
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