The Bravery — Stir The Blood

This New York City band made a strong first impression with their "An Honest Mistake" lead single from their self-titled 2005 debut album, and were one of the key players of the last decade's new wave-y dance-rock movement. The Sun And The Moon followed (in original and remixed versions) and while it also enjoyed success, the buzz around the group seemed to have waned somewhat.

Aside from controversy over a graphically sexual video for "Hatefuck" that was banned by the group's label late last year, there didn't seem to be a lot of talk around Stir The Blood, either. I understand why after listening to the album, which was produced by John Hill (Santigold, M.I.A.).

Lead single "Slow Poison" is one of the few songs on the record that make your ears prick up. Opener "Adored" has its moments, too, but much of Stir The Blood just sounds like tired retro-electro. The Bravery seem like they're going for something epic on "Song For Jacob," but they don't achieve it. Another song with a video, closing number "Sugar Pill," is gloomy in places and somewhat sunny in others. But it falls short of expectations, too.

One of the best parts of Stir The Blood is bassist Mike Hindert's "She's So Bendable," which seems to pay aural homage to Jesus And Mary Chain. That's not particularly original, but it's more interesting than most other songs on this often dark disc.

Stir The Blood isn't very stirring at all.

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