Bridge And Tunnel return with their much anticipated debut LP. The band delivered an awesome four song demo that turned into a 7-inch release courtesy of No Idea Records in 2007. The band features former members of Latterman, Each Other’s Mothers and Slingshot Dakota among many others. Bridge And Tunnel’s debut offering, East/West, marks a noticeable shift for the band and is the kind of album that rewards patience from the listener.
Much of the changes can probably be traced back to the band’s choice in recording. Granted the songs eschew any sort of accessibility or pop directness in the first place. The post-hardcore dynamics that the band flashed on their demo are certainly turned up to ten here. But the choice to opt for a more closed in sound with large doses of reverb kind of pushes the band’s sound inward. Not to mention that East/West was recorded by Kevin Ratterman (Elliott) after hours in an active funeral home and you have a recipe for a record that truly builds itself up from within.
What has not changed for Bridge And Tunnel is the smart lyrical nature and the inventive instrumentation of the band. This is the sound of punk rock being played by a group who knows how to play their instruments and not just recycle their influences. This is the sound of youth turning into adulthood. This is the sound of optimism being choked by apathy yet refusing to go down gracefully. Bridge And Tunnel could have taken a much easier route on their debut but the band chose to take the road less traveled. I may not always love East/West but I respect the hell out of it. On “White-Collar Crime Scene” the band asks, So where the fuck is our pride tonight? Are we just blank slates born at the end of an arms race? No doubt, Bridge And Tunnel are still here and they are still pissed. And for that we should be grateful.
Genre: Indie/Punk/Hardcore
RIYL: Fugazi, Cursive, Small Brown Bike
Label: No Idea
Call To The Comptroller’s Office
02%20Call%20To%20The%20Controller%27s%20Office.mp3
Night Owls
