Released some time ago on the Australian label Toupee Records, Velvet Blue released it stateside this past summer, giving Americans a chance to hear them for the first time, even though they have been around for a while and have a host of releases. At first the record just has a typical modern rock sound to it with a British feel, but as the record progresses the songs start to really show off the strength of the band. For me the record picks up about midway with, The Taste, a song that is beautifully augmented by violin. From there the record continues to impress with, Rise, a song with attitude, "Trying to get a rise out of me, well you got one", and a worshipful song, Knees. The standout track on the record is, Amazing Light, especially the very beginning when Caleb sings "burn everything," another song in which the violin really comes through and lifts the song to another level. Lyrically, the record is somewhat dark and melancholy, especially in the song, Sometimes, when Caleb sings, "sadness has known me for too long". The difference between this and say the sadness the Smiths sing about is that in the end he sings, "happiness has broken through the ground". The songs of Modern take you on a trip through the ups and downs of life, through a mix of harder edge songs and quiet worshipful songs, filled with a tremendous amount of hope and faith. While the record starts off a bit slow, the songs on Modern are a good introduction to a band that has been building a following in their own country for some time.
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Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #81Reviewed by David M. PoggeHere's a delicious piece of work that you would never find at Long John Silver's. Battered Fish play a unique strain of modern rock that will have your foot tapping with excitement from the very start. Good catchy songs, and passionate vocals combine for the perfect recipe for a quality album. If you or someone you know enjoys what has become known as "modern rock," buy this CD at the first…Decapolis 2000Reviewed by ConradThis album is laid back alternative rock. Everything this band does is pretty competent. They have a good grasp on songwriting and musicianship. Once in a while the vocals and music reminded me a little of Radiohead. The vocals for the most part were subdued but still sounded good. The production was really good. Although this genre isn't my style, it didn't really annoy me that much. I'm sure if…Decapolis 2000Reviewed by Tom BastianThese guys are pretty cool. The more and more I listened to it the more it seems to grow on me. Vocally they reminded me a little bit of Morrissey, Radiohead, or some of those other English sounding modern rock bands. Modern Rock, thats pretty much what you have here. The songwriting is good, the lyrics clever, and the diversity throughout the album is just right so not to bore you with the same…Decapolis 2000Reviewed by TimThis is probably one of the best "slow music" albums we have reviewed. The singers voice was really bland throughout the cd, but the songs were great. The melodies were pretty good and each song was fairly interesting and well distinguishable from the rest of the album. BThe Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Darryl CottierThe development from Battered Fish's first album Lure to their second Megawhat was astounding. Not only was there the difference of going from a mostly acoustic sound to angry electric rock, but the design and production elements took a big step forward. Battered Fish continues to take giant steps forward in their latest release Modern. The first thing that catches your eye is the packaging, a…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Jeff ElbelCaleb James has come stunningly into his own, with impassioned vocals leaving a song's every emotion drop-dead convincing. When he reassuringly croons "don't cry" on the Verve-ish "Amazing Light," sensitive types may find themselves choking back the tears. The exceptional trio steps outside its typical format on several songs. During "The Taste," violins underscore a beautiful sense of…
