This album is really good. And I say that in the most objective way I can because, you understand, these people are my friends. Well, half of them and the other half pretty much by default. For this reason, I have to be objective, and, well, because my editor told me I have to be or he would fire my ass [ed. note: with real fire]. But what I really want to say is that this album can rock the socks right off your feet. It starts out with a full blast of energy, with immediately pounding drums and shouting vocals that persist for quite awhile. When it finally slows down, it's not cheesy ballads that they give you but what can be called beautiful math rock, the repetitious little melody aptly titled "A Meaning Accrued By Duration." This song and "Don't Ever Change" are reminiscent of half of the band members' previous work in their "hometown" of Grand Forks, ND under the moniker Imipolex G. Those were the old days, these are the new days. No better or worse, just different, as is the band formed out of the ashes of a half dozen previous GF bands. The Bismarck can slide easily from the beauty of those songs to the bitterness and sarcasm spewed in "Ladie's Choice" to the balls out rock of "Trying to Keep My Dick Hard in a White Man's World." It's these surprising changes that not only make it hard to label such a band with genres or styles, but also what make you look forward to each subsequent release to see where they're headed.
1. Cock of the Fleet
2. Whiskey and Blankets
3. Who Fucking Wants Some?
4. Shape of A Bear
5. A Meaning Accrued Through Duration
6. Ladies' Choice
7. Hellgate High Fight Song
8. Don't Ever Change
9. Stick It In (and Break It Off)
10. Trying to Keep My Dick Hard in a White Man's World
More about: The Bismarck
