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Black Eyes

Black Eyes (2003)
Dischord Records

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: nick f
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on May 23rd 2003

Williamsburg can have it all.

According to every single media outlet as of late, you can't have the word "funk" nor "punk" ascribed to your band unless you happen to hail from the oh-so-trendy Brooklyn neighborhood. For every Radio 4, however, there are at least 5 non-NYC bands that have been mixing the glass shard guitar of Gang of Four with the ass on the floor groove of Chic. It's true! You don't have to be the Rapture to do it! Just ask Washington DC's Black Eyes.

On Black Eyes, the bands first full length on Dischord, the band galvanize with frantic screams, rocksolid beats, and an inate sense of urgency. But where other bands are happy to wallow in your steady 4/4 rythm, Black Eyes break out the godfather of all musical secret weapons: two drummers and two bassists. Where other bands attempt to mine rythmic gold with just one of each, Black Eyes spin rythms around each other, coiling you in further. Meanwhile the jarring noise of Daniel's (no last names are credited) guitar provides the screaming urgency that keep things interesting.

While the bands schizoid funk does resemble their Dischord forbearers to a slight degree, for the most part its all East Village circa 1982. Lyrically the band runs the gamut of social issues, yet their off-kilter, high pitched whine vs. declamatory shouting keep things interesting. Songs like "A Pack of Wolves" burst at the seams with energy while slower, more experimental tracks like "Day Turns Night" recall old school noise mongers DNA.

Live, Black Eyes could be the hottest thing going. They are a microcosm of energy and pure sweat. Thier shows have been known to transform entire rooms full of inertia prone scenester to get down with their bad selves. So go ahead Williamsburg, have fun with your little friends the Rapture and such, but don't come crying to me when Black Eyes takes their lunch money.

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plutocracy (January 15, 2004)

Lobbyists have a lot of spare time.

I've seen this band live. I'll never forget it. Very weird. The two drummers sat in front of the stage, with their kits facing each other. Watching them play in unison was hypnotizing (sorta). The score is for this show, since I haven't heard the record.

Anonymous (July 9, 2003)

why are all the good bands from DC?

Anonymous (June 1, 2003)

yes, i have seen the blackeyes live. three times actually. once in the SIS Center at AU, once in someone's living room, and once in the lower church at st. al's church. all three times the people in the room were really into the show - dancing and such, a rarity for most dc crowds. in any case, i think they are a great live band, so i can't really speak for your experiences.

Anonymous (May 30, 2003)

"Live, Black Eyes could be the hottest thing going. They are a microcosm of energy and pure sweat. Thier shows have been known to transform entire rooms full of inertia prone scenester to get down with their bad selves."

Have you ever actually been to a Black Eyes show? Maybe I missed that show, but the two times I've seen them, everyone (like always in DC) just stood their gazing or went to the Red Room to continue drinking.

This is definitely not to knock the band. They've got their thing going, I'm just not a fan. I enjoy them live, but their records aren't a priority for me. Hence the 5.

jheisel (May 29, 2003)

OK, my copy of this came in the mail yesterday, so I can safely say this rocks.

Anonymous (May 27, 2003)

What is with the opening line referring to Williamsburg?

Anonymous (May 26, 2003)

didn't some of these guys used to be in trooper?

jheisel (May 26, 2003)

i believe the rapture currently call nyc their home, but whatever.

in any case, the black eyes cd should be coming in the mail this week, and i am psyched to hear it.

Anonymous (May 24, 2003)

they are no Red Line

Anonymous (May 24, 2003)

you can get the "someone had his fingers broken" mp3 on the southern records webpage, just search black eyes southern records or something

i saw them last night and am seeing them again tonight, so good!

Anonymous (May 24, 2003)

What a breath of fresh air...that's the only way I can describe this.

Anonymous (May 24, 2003)

where can i get mp3's from these guys?

Anonymous (May 24, 2003)

I hope to see these guys soon.......should be a great show....and a good chance to see a show without all of the riff raff that more popular bands bring. I saw Bad Religion recently and, although rocked as usual, their audience has become more and more full of....well....riff raff.

Anonymous (May 24, 2003)

black eyes are the new hotness

xmolemanx (May 23, 2003)

Nick_f and I saw these guys with Aina and the Capitol City Dusters and it was quite an orgasmic experience.
I don't have the album yet but I'm sure it's nothing short of astounding judging from the mp3 I have of 'someone has his fingers broken.'

Anonymous (May 23, 2003)

If anyone has an opportunity to see these guys, seize it immediately! I haven't seen a band this good in a very long time.

Anonymous (May 23, 2003)

great album. highly recommend it. by the way ,what the hell is woot? is that like the woo-woo that aresenio hall used to do but just spelled woot? i see "woot" on these message boards and am thinking, uh dork, stop it.

Travis (May 23, 2003)

one of the best albums oif the year thus far, thats for sure.

lackofsleep (May 23, 2003)

yeah, this band definitely kicks ass.

Anonymous (May 23, 2003)

all the mp3s ive heard by these guys are great. gotta pick up the full length.

Anonymous (May 23, 2003)

This band is amazing, this album is amazing. woot!