Search - Bad Veins :: Bad Veins

4.5 Stars... Highly anticipated debut album delivers at all

Paul Allaer | Cincinnati | 07/21/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Indie-band Bad Veins consists of singer-songwriter-guitarist-keyboardist Benjamin Davis and drummer Sebastein Schultz, augmented live by a reel-to-reel player affectionately referred to as "Irene". In that simple line-up, the band brings an amazing array of sounds. The band formed in 2006, released an EP in 2007, and after steadily building bigger buzz regionally and then nationally, the band was signed to Dangerbird Records (home of bands like Silversun Pickups, Eulogies and The Dears). Now finally comes the highly anticipated debut album.



"Bad Veins" (10 tracks; 39 min.) actually starts off with its least-representative track "Found", a slower song featuring trombones no less. After that, though, we're off to the races. "Gold and Warm', the band's signature song (and first radio single from the album), is an irresistible song that will immediately grab you. If mainstream commercial radio were any good still (which of course it isn't), this song could/shoud get massive airplay. "Crosseyed" follows, and is my favorite track on the album, an upbeat track with a wicked keyboard solo towards the end, just great. "Afraid" and "The Lie" are both epic-sized songs, check out the mammoth drumming driving both of these. "Falling Tide" is a short, biting song, with heavy guitar riffs, and another of my favorite tracks on here. "Dry Out" is another one of those songs that could be a candidate for a single, back in the day. "This Ending" is a brooding song, and the closer "Go Home" wraps up the album perfectly. In all, this album meets the high expectations, and then some. At just 39 min., this album clips by in no time and you'll find yourself playing this again and again.



I would be remiss if I didn't mention that Bad Veins hail from Cincinnati, home of a number of buzz-building indie-bands, including Wussy, the Pomegranates, Buffalo Killers, Lions Rampant, You You're Awesome, the Sundresses and many others. Very vibrant indie-rock scene here in the Queen City. I've seen Bad Veins in concert many, many times around town since I saw them first in December, 2006, and to see how much these guys have grown musically since then is just amazing. After playing a hugely attended CD release concert last week on Fountain Square here in Cincinnati, Bad Veins is going on tour nationally in support of the album, and will be playing at the Monolith Music Festival (at the Red Rocks, near Denver) in September, in their highest profile tour yet. Their live set is outstanding and not to be missed. Finally, if you wonder where you can hear Bad Veins, check out WOXY (Bam! The Future of Rock and Roll), the internet-only station that brings the best indie-music in the country, bar none.

"

Bad Veins is amazing-buy this album!

HS | Chicagoland USA | 09/03/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tired of the same-old, same-old music? Bad Veins' album is definitely worth a listen AND the 12 bucks or whatever it is to own a copy. This band is incredible, quite unlike anyone else. I have a new favorite song every time I listen to this album, and I listen to it over and over again. I have also had the pleasure to see them live a couple of times, and these guys are great-the real deal!"

Surprised that I can Still Be Surprised!

J. Day | 07/27/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been in kind of a funk lately when it comes to music, but these guys really perked me up today. It had been a long time since I'd heard something that surprised me. Not sure what to categorize them as. Indy pop? Just sample them. They are really good!"