No one just kind of likes Brian Jonestown Massacre. Well, not until now, maybe. A band that enjoyed hefty press after the 2004 documentary, DiG!, became the darling of Sundance, fans and haters became staunch in their stances. Lovers loved BJM because they are spot-on revivalists. Haters hated them because they’re hippie pricks. I’m a fan — but if the sound on Who Killed Sgt. Pepper? is their new M.O., I’m not sure I’ll keep listening. It’s an electronic-based record, one largely devoid of the revival-like sound that is central to the band’s past 10 records. This is a record driven by disco beats and keyboard lines.
Don’t get me wrong: It’s not all bad. But I want garage rock. I want kooky conjuring of a long-dead sound. I want my Brian Jonestown crazy, swaggering and cocky. If I wanted to hear bullshit dance-y electro-pop, I’d go buy a MGMT CD.
Download: “Tunger Hnifur”
