BNLX Double Feature
A few months back I received a local EP in the mail from a new band called BNLX. I wasn’t alone – other people laid paws on the EP as well, but unlike me, they had time to blog about it and spread the good word. These days everyone is trying to find unique ways to promote and distribute their music, and because of this the EP has has experienced a sort of renaissance . The only problem with this is that the EP can be a serious marketing and image nightmare since, on account of its brevity, it can struggle to create its own identity or storyline; finishing before the listener can escape into it.
It took Billy Corgan two discs of material to create the storyesque Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. I’ve never heard of anyone doing anything similar within the context of a 3-4 song EP. (Note: If you have, I’d love to hear the example! It would no doubt be a supreme work of creativity).
But here is the deal: BNLX just released a second EP, now only three months after the first. Like the first, this EP contains four songs, bringing the total to eight tunes on the year.
 [audio=http://borangutan.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/01-Do-Without.mp3,,download] “Do Without” by: BNLX |
 [audio=http://borangutan.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/01-Where-Is-The-Love.mp3,,download] “Where Is The Love” by: BNLX |
Where is this headed? Do the masterminds behind BNLX have some master plan for their EP releases beyond the simple effect of “keeping things fresh” with regular releases? If so, I might like to see something like a fan contest where people like me are asked to cannibalize the EPs (there will be a third, right?), reorganize them, and produce an ideal LP version of the three combined at the end of the year. This LP, of course, would have a new hidden track tacked on at the end, come with unique art work, and maybe even have some other goodies to boot. I’m sure those creative BNLX’ers could come up with something extra special!
But until we find out exactly what BNLX is up to, we can all stay content with our frankincense and myrrh. BNLX and BNLX2 represent some of the best, straight-up modern rock to come out of the cities in recent years. Were I asked to coin a term or phrase to best describe how I feel about BNLX, I might coin this: “Too Cool for Indie.”
Catch BNLX live at their release show on Friday, June 25 at Sauce Spirits and Sound Bar. $5 cover, music at 10PM.
Links
BNLX – Website / Myspace / Facebook
posted June 10th, 2010 at 3:41 pm Reviews
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