Honestly? We have no idea why we procrastinated on this review as much as we did. Actually, scratch that. We do have an idea. It’s because sometimes, with a very select few records, we want to make sure we get what we’re trying to convey just right. Because the music we’re talking about in that particular case is that good. BEAR, from Friendship Commanders, is that kind of an album. The kind that sits with you a LONG time after you finish listening to it (Just looking at the album title as we type and several songs on there immediately come to mind and start swirling around in the old noggin), the kind that sits with you as you’re listening to it. That kind of record. Honestly again? As a follow-up to 2023’s MASS (And our top album of that year), we can’t believe we had any doubt that BEAR wouldn’t have at least the same impact. If not more.
Anyway!
Singer/songwriter/guitarist Buick Audra has yet again conjured a record that’s one big bout of sonic catharsis with some of the themes running throughout BEAR touching on exclusion and outsider identity while others talk on broken friendships, kinship and loss. Along for the ride this time is fellow Friendship Commander Jerry Roe on drums as well as Kurt Ballou who, following his work on MASS, returned to track, mix, and co-produce the instrumental side of the record at God City in Salem (Vocals by Audra recorded in Nashville at Fort Knockout).
Part of a pair of dual lead singles ahead of the record, “KEEPING SCORE” launches the new album in a flurry of fuzzed out riffs from Audra with Roe’s refined yet still bombastic sticks slamming out the steady beats as Audra effervescently emotes across broad vocal passages. “DRAIN” is all grungy, gnarly feels in the riff department with Audra’s soulful croon offsetting not only the big noise out of her guitars but also Roe’s stick work which effortlessly switches between slamming then pummeling then bringing it back with those signature staccato attacks.
Another “new” one, “DRIPPING SILVER”, equally hearkens back to some of MASS‘ more vibrant moments (“High Sun” and “Fail” come to mind) but also dabbles in Smashing Pumpkins territory (Siamese Dream especially) with the walls of sound that Audra erects with her instrument while “MELT” is a righteous kick in the arse to make sure fans are still paying attention and filled with killer, driving melodies as Audra’s voice practically bounces off the music her and Roe are laying down.
“NEW” was one that immediately made the collective hairs on the back of our neck stand up (Still does it, too, having listened through it a bunch already) on this crushing, moving track featuring a fierce Roe ruckus and Audra just slaying with the guitar sounds concocted as well as with the cool, hypnotic refrain in the breakdown. Then another previously released track, “X”, pops up like an old friend boasting a glistening, layered chorus with themes on Gen X and the passing of legendary Steve Albini who was also a friend and collaborator to FC. “MIDHEAVEN” displays the intricacies of all the parts that make Friendship Commanders so great while “IMPERFECT”, similar to “NEW”, will absolutely wreck you sonically (And maybe spiritually when you deep dive into Audra’s lyrics of “trying to fit in when one knows better”) and is one we found ourselves going back to over and over some more.
“FOUND” is just all kinds of awesome whether it’s Audra’s vocal mastery that’s Bluesy and powerful, the nasty, pointed riffage coming out of her guitar, the lush chorus or Roe’s divine drumming, it just al comes out as rad. Closing with a different kind of rad altogether, “DEAD & DISCARDED GIRLS” is a larger than life, pulsating body of sound until it’s not with Audra’s haunting words “What if I told you I was fine” lingering on long after the song and album conclude.
BEAR arrives via new label home Magnetic Eye Records on October 10th and there are a VARIETY of physical options (And digital ones if ya don’t like stuff!) that you can find by heading here, here or to the stream below. For more from Friendship Commanders, like where to catch them on their upcoming North American headline run which takes them to our own O’Brien’s on October 19th with Blue Manic and Alreckque (Direct link for that one here), hit the information superhighway to find the socials located here, here, or here.