The more I listen to Bastille, the more I associate them with everything
wrong in the 'indie rock' music community. It's a shame to hear the work of
copycats go on, and be received well plainly unnoticed for years. Bastille's debut
album Bad Blood wasn't reviewed by us simply because it has no backbone
or defining features as a stand-alone album. Bad Blood is the work of
influence, derived from popularity for the more pop focussed and Radio One
listening indie rock fan. Bastille, with a triangle instead of the a (for the
Eiffel Tower and reference to where they take their name from - Bastille Day,) have actually
been less successful than fans make out. They're essentially the British indie
band that are trying to push audiences in to poppy rock music. The Owl City of
London, with Everything Everything influences, but without the creative
ability. And before the 17 year olds bluffer their fingers in retaliation, I
don't class album sales as success. Steve Jobs shifting millions of Macintosh
computers is a success story, but Girls Aloud selling thousands of albums -
just no.
Bastille are re-releasing Bad Blood next month, with a few B-sides and a single to go with it. It's only been seven months and already the major label (Virgin / EMI) are breathing down Bastille’s neck with a 'deluxe edition'. They already have The Extended Cut Bonus Tracks from Bad Blood, and a US edition... In the spirit of Nicki Minaj and Lana Del Ray, Bastille and the product they sell are making an enormous sum off of editions, extended versions, post-album singles, and re-releases. It's the work of corporate fat cats and their ever profitable solutions to the declining physical album sale. They're sucking the life out of music, and by doing this, they're taking the purchaser for a sucker; someone who has no idea why they're buying 50% of the same album in a re-issue for £11.99.
"Of The Night" is a
combination of two R&B tracks - who would have thought Bastille would take
the same direction to what's currently 'in' and selling. It
takes DeBarge's "Rhythm Of The Night" and Corona’s cover. Bastille
wanted to make the cover "Their own," but they’ve not
met that personal expectation at all. It uses all the dance characteristics of
Corona's cover and the passion of the original, but enhancing the emphasis on a
drum beat and vocal layers. There’s no questioning Bastille's production
quality, it's superb and the highlight of Bad Blood. "Of The
Night" is nothing special or unique. Bastille are using the developed
popular R&B sound of popular artists in the States like The Weeknd, and attempting
to offer a British take, to be used for their own good. I don't hear a British
band in "Of The Night", all I hear is a band restrained by a major
label, taking what's already being created for their own profit. It's not even
in the top 10 covers of "Rhythm
Of The Night".
~Eddie
