Blacklist - Midnight Of The Century

It’s become more apparent that today's young “New Wave” bands are more firmly rooted in the more streamlined post-punk side of the genre, almost as if they're reluctant to take the dark sound into the kind of over-the-top territory that the genre begs for. Which is why the debut album by Brooklyn's Blacklist is so damned refreshing. As if completely unafraid of the inevitable jeers from the condescending, ironic indie scenester crowd, they get it. Boasting production as huge as its many hooks, Midnight Of The Century might seem aimed at morose teens hidden away in their bedrooms, but its sights are set much higher, the arrangements brazenly going for a Killers style of stadium rock. You needn't look further than the first single, "Flight of the Demoiselles", either, a pulsating anthem that brilliantly channels the post-U2 wave of mid-'80s British bands (Simple Minds, the Alarm). While a bleak undercurrent lurks throughout the track, vocalist/guitarist Josh Strawn evokes the chilly, almost detached tones of Peter Murphy and Andrew Eldritch in his singing.

"Shock in the Hotel Falcon" might sound insistent, but it subtly builds up to a stirring climax over the course of nearly five minutes. The acoustic-tinged dream pop of "Odessa" immediately brings to mind the great, underrated American band For Against, while "Frontiers" audaciously dips its hands in mainstream pop. And even for all their pretensions, Blacklist show they're capable of more understated moments, nicely exemplified by the graceful "The Believer", which closes the album. Will they end up playing the kind of stadiums and arenas their music is suited for? Sadly, probably not. Though their opening shot might be patently uncool, there's absolutely nothing wrong with an indie band swinging for the fences. And indeed, these guys have knocked one out of the park on their first try.

There has been nothing from Blacklist since 2009 when Midnight Of The Century was released on Weird Records but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a listen to most of their recorded output. 

Ripped to MP3 @ 320kbps

Blacklist; Midnight Of The Century

1.      Still Changes

2.      Flight Of The Demoiselles

3.      Shock In The Hotel Falcon

4.      Language Of The Living Dead

5.      Odessa

6.      Julie Speaks

7.      Poison For Tomorrow

8.      Frontiers

9.      The Cunning Of History

10.   Worlds Collide

11.   The Believer

12.   Exit* (2005 Promo)

13.   Dawn Of The Idols* (2005 Promo)

14.   Blue Shifted* (2007 Solidaire Single)

15.   Pure Joy In My Heart* (2007 Solidaire Single)

16.   Language Of The Living Dead* (2005 Promo)