If any criticism can be thrown at Portland four-piece Mr. Bones’ debut self-titled EP, it would be at the record’s sporadic nature. Jumping in style and tempo, it never quite settled on a distinctive sound. Come their new album, ‘Bites’, and it’s all changed.
“Recording ‘Bites’ was a more organized experience, though it took way longer,” explains singer and guitarist Leland Brehl. “These songs were picked and written with an album in mind.”
The result balances between sun-kissed grunge-pop and gloomy punk. There are superficial nods to Weezer and their ilk, but deep down ‘Bites’ is a dense listen. It soundtracks the despondency of Generation Y, caught between a bright existence and an unshakable feeling of uncertainty. Taking the bookends as an example, the record moves from the uplifting surf-pop ‘I Adore You’ to the heavier, more morose ‘You Ruined It’.
“I still remember things I used to like,” Brehl exclaims on the final track, yet ‘Bites’ is destined to outlive the solemn Y generation, and to be remembered for a long time to come.
‘Bites’ will be available from the 26th February 2016 via Good Cheer Records.