Band of Skulls
Baby Darling Doll
Face Honey
Artist First
By Eileen Tilson
Never judge a book by its cover, or in this case, a
band by its name. Britain’s Band of Skulls are not a bunch of death-metal
skeleton-heads. They are actually a frayed-round-the-edges rock trio hailing
from Southampton, England. Their debut album, Baby Darling Doll Face
Honey, is as jumbled up and eclectic as their name. Recorded in Radiohead’s
Courtyard Studios and produced by Ian Davenport (Supergrass, Badly Drawn Boy),
BDBFH could very easily be confused with another one of Jack White’s side
projects. Singer-guitarist Russell Marsden echoes White in both his vocal
delivery and in his guitar-playing . Marsden is joined on lead vocals by Emma
Richardson, whose smoky voice resembles Alison Mosshart’s (The Kills as well as
Jack White’s new band, The Dead Weather). Drummer Matt Hayward’s influences may
come genetically – his Dad was in a band who supported the Rolling Stones and had
the same manager as the Troggs.
The album itself is a collage of three or four
different styles, due to the fact that all three members of the band are primary
songwriters. Having formed the band mere months before recording, the album
presents a collection of mismatched songs brought to the table by three members
who all wanted their voices to be heard. While the album can be frustrating to
listen to due to the lack of congruence, the good news is there are no bad
songs on this album.
The first part of the album is the dirty Southern
rock section. With songs like “I Know What I Am,” “Light of the Morning” and “Death
by Diamonds and Pearls,” you can envision the band in their vintage cowboy boots
stomping around and hell-raising; the music is real, and is what the band does
best. Continuing down the aisle, tracks five through seven (“Honest,” “Patterns” and “Hollywood
Bowl”) are mellow and acoustic, perhaps influenced by the fact that they were
recorded in the same studio as The Bends.
Just when you think you have settled into the music,
they switch gears again for the remainder of the album, with songs like “Blood,”
a blues-rock song that invokes the ghosts of '60s British blues.
Although you have to dig through the mess,
BDDFH has all the ingredients for a solid rock record. Fortunately for
them, what they do live on stage, they do well. Already receiving rave reviews
from their show at Lollapalooza, hopefully Band of Skulls will return to the
studio a little more seasoned, and more focused on sharpening their
sound.
Band of Skull play Smith's Olde Bar Tuesday, August 11. Buy your tickets at Ticket Alternative.
