Music Review: Broadcast Sea - Lost Generation

With only six songs and failing to crack 23-minutes in length, Lost Generation from Broadcast Sea wastes little time getting in and getting out. They do not wear out their welcome nor do they bore you with lengthy introductions or overly long musical excursions. They bring the rock, they bring it big and they leave you wondering just what it was that ran you over.



They are not a band you would normally think would bowl me over, but I must admit to always being up for a surprise. This one certainly did that. It is a record that gets right to the business of the music, delivering a sound that is vaguely familiar yet fresh, not to mention heavy enough to break you of that nasty soft indie rock habit you picked up in recent years.

Most closely resembling a garage noise band, Broadcast Sea has the sound that will catch your ear in the garage yet grab your full attention in an arena setting. It is a strange combination that works, the Texans have crafted a big garage sound. The kind of garage used for big farm equipment, or to play Super Bowls in. This is a big, fuzzy, loud, rock sound that just crushes.

I am reminded of Helmet. Seriously, frontman Sterling Cash sounds a lot like Page Hamilton (of Helmet, of course). The similarity is almost eerie. The music, on the other hand is like Mastodon, if you slow them down and peel away a few layers. Well, it really isn't anything like Mastodon, but for some reason that is the band that comes to mind as the album plays out.

This is a rock album that strips it down to the bare essentials. Take away all your fancy mixing boards and effects racks, put you amps and drum kit in that garage and just play, see what comes out. There is something deliciously fluid about the flow of Lost Generation. It is like it was all recorded at one time with scan few microphones and a simple mixing board.

It has a nice production quality, but it has a DIY aesthetic. I love it. It is strange, though, as this isn't usually my cup of tea. This is one of those albums that appears out of left field and hits you on the blind side. It is an antidote for what ails you. In a sea of overproduced, radio friendly pop in the wake of the Grammy awards, this is a great reminder that great band don't need awards or the surrounding pop and circumstance. I bet these guys would be much happier in a smoke filled bar playing to whoever happens to be there. It may not be getting you the money you likely deserve, but it is real.

Not sure how long it will last, but you can download the album free! Go HERE

Highly Recommended.