NME Reviews

Nine Black Alps

Bitter End

October 15, 2007 | 2 Comments
Nine Black Alps reviews RSS feed
Nine Black Alps news, reviews, video and tour dates
Post this on Twitter or Follow NME

Nine Black Alps October 2005

Does anybody really care about Nine Black Alps anymore? Nope, and songs like ‘Bitter End’ are the reason why. Basically, they’ve done a Cooper Temple Clause – in other words, NBA are a prime example of a once edgy, exciting band (remember ‘Cosmopolitan’?), who have abandoned all their once-pure intentions in favour of churning out inoffensive indie-by-numbers and competing for a ‘coveted’ spot on Jo Whiley’s daytime playlist. A few people took exception to their Nirvana-lite approach on their first record, but this track is more heinous a crime to our ears.

Share this story:
Del.icio.us
Digg
Furl
Reddit
Bebo

Follow NME on Twitter

PREVIOUS Oasis

Next The Maccabees

Buy NME Magazine right now

Subscribe here or get this week's issue delivered to your door

Comments (2)

Add a comment

Danieljarvis

Oct 17, 2007

The polar titled album, ‘Love/Hate’ is the second offering from Mancunian post grunge quartet ‘Nine Black Alps’. After a two year break since their well reviewed debut album ‘Everything Is’, ‘Love/Hate’ has quite a reputation to live up to as runners of a ‘second coming’ of grunge. However the band had stated that their second album would be leaning towards a less grungier sound, making it more ‘pop accessible’ and thus departing from the gritty sound that won their first album such acclaim.
The first song on the album certainly lives up to the band’s predictions. ‘Bitter End’ opens the album with a cheery, coaxing chorus ‘baby come down/I’ll be your friend’ which whilst being fairly catchy and hummable it is a big departure from their edgier singles from their first album and has the feel of a fairly bland, inoffensive indie track. Luckily the album’s second song, ‘Burn Faster’ revives some of the edgy lyrics and fast, pacy guitar riffs off their previous work and the snarling ‘So in Love’ re-employs distorted guitar sounds as front man Sam Forrest’s voice clamours to be heard in a vibrant, exciting song.
One of the influences that linger heavily on the album

indiedisco

Oct 17, 2007

I disagree, it is a catchy pop tune, however there is much more to the album. Nine Black Alps is what satisfies the guitar in people now. You can come up with a million names or give up and say "Oh mate listen to Hendrix then" but I have better things to say to you Mr. Reviewer, if you're so keen on what to listen why can't you make a better song and let us listen to that. Wake up man.