I’ve been aware of Rx Bandits for a quite some time now. But none of the songs that I had heard over the years really grabbed my ear and demanded me to dig deeper. I just never really gave them the chance.
Sargent House sent us their new album Mandala last week after seeing our review of Portugal. The Man’s Satanic Satanist. They’ve earned our trust in their taste for music, and so it didn’t take me long to find the time to give it a spin.
I can’t deny that similarities to The Mars Volta hit me immediately. The sudden stops that then jump into jazz-punk freak-out improvs, the squealing, delay pedaled leads intertwined with keyboards on Hearts That Hanker For Mistake; it would be a feat of cognitive dissonance to force myself not to bring up that comparison that I’m sure has been made by plenty of other critics.
But this band is by no means to be written off as a Mars Volta clone. You can just as easily draw similarities to several wildly unrelated, less obvious bands, such as Cursive, Glassjaw, Muse, and Puya. And yet I doubt any of these bands directly influenced the group, which has evolved from a five-piece ska band to their current streamlined semi-prog rock configuration over the past fourteen years or so.
This album is a grower. There’s an ever-so-subtle touch of 90s metal (I’d rather not use the N-word), just the slightest touch of something that feels like something you left in junior high. But the music slams you with these undeniably awesome hooks and trap doors that help keep you on board. And the more you stick with it, the easier it is to get past that initial hurdle of familiarity.
Despite all of its twists and turns, Mandala follows a clear arc from beginning to end. The first five tracks are for the most part hard-hitting rockers, culminating in Mientras La Veo Soñar, with lyrics in Spanish. But from March Of The Caterpillar onward, the album descends into more emotional subject matter, where thick, brooding music becomes not uniform, but certainly more prominent.
White Lies is a great representation of the album’s deep end, with understated drums and somber keyboards providing a landscape for quiet introspection that leads to a hopeful resolve before winding down a staircase of violins towards a final decision: I don’t want to live this way / Because it tears me away from you / When I feel the hopelessness / I’m all alone in a crowded room / Every step I take / I keep walking the same old road / I’ve gotta cut that cord / and keep digging ’til I can / find me something tangible…
Mandala holds its own standing next to some of the more outstanding albums released this year, including Dredg’s latest, Portugal’s The Satanic Satanist, and Octahedron. I can’t yet tell you how it compares with the band’s past works; I’m curious to find out myself, now that I’m a fan. But regardless of where they came from, Mandala is an achievement. This year has brought many impressive albums already, and yet here is another.
Mandala
July 21, 2009
Sargent House
1. My Lonesome Only Friend
2. It’s Only Another Parsec…
3. Hope Is A Butterfly, No Net Its Captor, She Beats Her Wings And Softly Sings Of Summer Scent And Childrens Laughter (Virus Of Silence)
4. Hearts That Hanker For Mistake
5. Mientras La Veo Soñar
6. March Of The Caterpillar
7. White Lies
8. Bury It Down Low
9. Breakfast Cat
10. Bled To Be Free (The Operation)
11. Bring Our Children Home Or Everything Is Nothing
By the way, you can pick up a digital copy of this album for a measly $2.99 on Amazon. Though the cover art is so cool, you might wind up blowing $30 on the vinyl while you’re at it. Be careful.
Rx Bandits are currently on tour with Dredg. What a great bill. Dates here.
About Skwerl
Kevin "Skwerl" Cogill was taught his first computer programming language by his Mother's marijuana dealer at age ten. His first job involved hustling TicketMaster lines on behalf of a New Jersey concert ticket broker at age fourteen, followed by a job in graphic design shortly after graduating high school and trade school simultaneously in 1998. He built his first website in 1996 or so, and continues to do things the way they should be done, rather than the way everyone else does. He's a bit of an asshole, but he's fiercely loyal to fellow fans of good music.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Skwerl now resides in Los Angeles.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Damn, this sounds really cool. I’d buy the vinyl but I live in Kuala Lumpur so there’s not many retailers, plus things often become “lost in the post”.. Still good review. I’ll make sure to check it out
July 21st, 2009 at 7:33 PM
Loved the “N-word” thing… I can’t really bring myself to say it. Great record, and it is a grower indeed, my friend/lover/brother.
Oh, and go burn your Nu…arrrgghhhh!! That shit! you know!
July 21st, 2009 at 7:35 PM
OK, shit… I liked it for a while. “So what?” — Miles Davis
July 21st, 2009 at 10:32 PM
you should listen to and the battle begun… that friggin cd is awesome and a perfect launch pad for their latest. As was the resignation, for battle. Just wait and see what lies before you on this musical discovery…
July 22nd, 2009 at 6:49 AM
The last track on The Resignation (“Decrescendo”) will absolutely melt your face off!! Check it out…
July 22nd, 2009 at 8:19 AM
Not a bad review, but to be honest if you wanted to give this album a competent review you should have done more research on the band. Reviewing what is essentially the Bandit’s 6th studio album (they might say it’s their 5th) as if they’re some foreign up-and-coming entity on the music scene is silly. Even if that is what they are to you because you’ve never given them a real chance.
I’d like to hear your thoughts on this album after giving them a full discography listen or two.
But props for reviewing a band that doesn’t get an ounce of the publicity they deserve.
July 22nd, 2009 at 10:14 AM
well, we’re honest around here. was i really going to absorb 5 or 6 studio albums in a week or so, while simultaneously studying their newest? i’d rather be up front about my lack of perspective on their past work, than try and come off like i know the band’s work after a last minute half-assed cram sesh. but i will definitely be checking those albums out now, and glad you guys dig my take on the newest overall.
July 22nd, 2009 at 5:54 PM
I agree with Jared. While I respect the fact that you didn’t want to rush through 5 other cds (which would be impossible, given the time needed to actually absorb some of them) and give a half-assed review, knowing how they’ve evolved is one of the essential parts of this album. Like you said, they’ve gone from a ska bad to a damn near experimental/indie etc etc etc band, but to actually listen to them go from typical high school ska to something as musically inventive as their later cds makes you appreciate them so much more. Even their cd titles mark their evolution.
I’ve seen them live multiple times, they never disappoint.
The ONLY thing I disagree COMPLETELY with is the comparison to The Mars Volta. I’ve been listening to TMV since De-Loused was released, and I started listening to RX Bandits between “Halfway” and “Progress”. There is no comparison, not in a guitar riff, a drum solo, or a single measure of music. Just because one has always been, and one has evolved into, trippy music, doesn’t mean they sound anything alike.
Otherwise, rock on, home slice
July 22nd, 2009 at 9:54 PM
no comparison? you are tripping. i did a quick copy & paste job:
http://www.antiquiet.com/misc/rx-volta.mp3
sounds like it could be the same band.
this was just two samples that sprung to my mind immediately. i’m sure there are better examples out there.
i’m not saying rx bandits ripped off the mars volta. no way. but they definitely produce a similar sound. no question about it.
July 23rd, 2009 at 6:21 AM
Link don’t work.
Plus you can say “no question about it” all you want, but there clearly IS, seeing as we’re disagreeing here.
Like I say, everyone’s entitled to their own opinions, and none of them are wrong. I’m just saying that I have about a decade under my belt of listening to both RX Bandits and The Mars Volta on a near daily basis and I’ve yet to compare the two as similar.
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:34 AM
link do work. i can disagree that the earth is round, that doesn’t mean it’s questionable. i think your perspective is warped, there are extremely obvious similarities. that’s all they are, just similarities. but they’re undeniable… by a reasonable person.
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:49 AM
Excellent sound example. The Mars Volta reference is a common-and valid-one. I’m behind the argument that neither is jacking the other’s style in any way, but it should be noted that a contributing review of Mandala that didn’t make the cut spent four full paragraphs comparing the two bands. There’s a lot to be said for the similarities – if you’ve spent a decade listening to both bands, and have the slightest inkling of an analytical ear, surely you’re able to see that.
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:51 PM
There are definite Mars Volta similarities, especially in Mandala and …And The Battle Begun. But one thing the Bandits have always maintained from their Ska-punk origins is infectious and catchy hooks. That combined with the inventive ska and reggae riffs they utilize and Embree’s lyrical genius/soul are what I feel strongly sets them apart from TMV’s experimental/prog/whateveryouwanttocallit glory.
July 24th, 2009 at 3:25 PM
you can’t really fault someone for reviewing album with no proper experience listening to the band. yes, maybe the album does show a progression, but is looking at it from the perspective the ONLY way to review an album? If anything you should be thrilled that someone gave your favorite band a chance and is loving it, if anything, his judgment is less clouded then that of someone who is already a converted fan
July 25th, 2009 at 8:38 AM
hello ,i love the bandits. started listening to them between ‘the resignation’ and ‘and the battle begun..’ and have procedeed to buy listen and watch everything i could get my hands on since then. i enjoyed ‘those damn bandits’ and ‘halfway between here and there’ but ‘progress’ is exactly what it says on the tin and this is where the bandits start to excell. there is something to be said about the journey the bandits music took, especially when choi the lead guitarist got involved with writing on the resignation. but its great to see them gaining new audiences! and albums should be looked at from all perspectives. i think this is a fair review for a first time listener of the bandits. i personally agree with the comparisons to TMV and also cursive, but jared solves this arguement for me embree is a genius! and i love the groovy dance feel the ska roots of the band give to their songs. if you enjoyed this album ‘the battle’ and ‘the resignation’ will be a real treat! the resignation is still my favourite album although it isn’t as musically developed as ‘the battle’ and ‘mandala’. i love embrees honesty and have drawn most comparisons in my life to the resignation. keep listening!
July 27th, 2009 at 3:45 PM
I agree some of your comparisons to TMV, but, as RXB has been around for much longer than TMV, I wouldn’t ever call them anything close to a ripoff. Hell, De-Loused and RXB’s first album with this prog-rock sound, The Resignation, were released 9 days apart. So I wouldn’t be comparing RXB to TMV, I’d go the other way. RXB’s previous album to The Resignation, Progress, was even verging on that sound.
And, yes, I do know of ATDI, and I do know that they existed for a good two years before RXB did, but their sound was totally different to TMV’s. Oh well, enough with the acronyms.
All that aside, I love this album, and this assessment is great, especially with what you had to work with, RXB experience-wise. I hope this convinces you to go back and listen to their other albums, as they too are mind blowingly spectacular.
July 27th, 2009 at 4:27 PM
I Agree with Casey on this, and a few others. RXB have been on the scene far longer than TMV…and as was stated above were discovering their prog sounds at almost the same time. I would like to say thank you for giving one of my favorite and in my mind one of the most talented and underrated bands I know of a chance to be heard and seen on a larger scale.
August 25th, 2009 at 10:05 AM
hey, noticed all these reviews are interesting but relentlessly positive. guess i have to pay for newspaper to get a middle age writer to hate an album
August 25th, 2009 at 11:27 AM
first of all, we’re not middle aged. dick. ha. but anyway, there are plenty of albums we hate. we tend not to waste our time telling you what not to listen to. that’s why there’s no vampire weekend, phoenix, cobra starship, or fleet foxes reviews here.
occasionally we’re let down by an album that should have been good. that’s where the bulk of our bad reviews come from, and they’re here to be found.
September 1st, 2009 at 7:59 AM
Skwerl, I like the last comment you made, in fact made me laugh. I also believe you wrote an intricate review of an amazing album considering your fresh approach to the band. I’m not going to spew about my love for the bandits or my following and observation of their growth over their existence, but I will agree with one prior post and suggest you do yourself a favor my checking the rest of their catalog. And See Them Live! Great review
October 9th, 2009 at 10:00 AM
I am a big fan of RXB and TMV and, I agree, when I heard Mandala I immediately texted my friend saying “this album sure is heavy on the volta influence,” but, hey, that’s not a bad thing at all.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:47 AM
[...] if I have anything to say about it, and the live versions reinforced my appreciation. Check out our in depth review if you dig The Mars Volta, Portugal. The Man, or, of course, [...]
November 27th, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Mandala, while very good, is a bit of a departure from their previous work. Progress, The Resignation, … and the Battle Begun are all better albums in my opinion. But as usual for RX, Mandala holds a special place as well. Progress is my personal favorite, but dam if I can’t say I love every song of every album I mentioned.
January 19th, 2010 at 8:25 AM
[...] David Guetta and our beloved Dead Weather, and will also feature appearances by Portugal. The Man, Rx Bandits and Dirty [...]
January 31st, 2010 at 7:53 PM
Wow you are just now finding out about these guys. You need to hear The Sound Of Animals fighting, its made up of the core members of the RX Bandits and the front man is Anthony Green from Circa Survive. The Rx bandits have put out a solid group of cds, the past four being their best. They put on an amazing live show, almost better live than on cd.