Astronomy

Description

Astronomy, sub-titled The Legacy of a Hero, is the fifth album by the American modern rock band Bleach, released on Tooth & Nail Records in October 2003. The album was recorded by Neill King at Dark Horse Recording in Franklin, Tennessee; with King, Oran Thornton, and the band producing. Additional engineering by Peter Carlson and Robbie Owen (with Dan Leffler recording track 7). Mixed by King. All songs written by the band.

Bleach is Dave Baysinger on vocals, Milam Byers and Sam Barnhart on guitars, Jerry Morrison on bass, and Jared Byers on drums.

Chugging guitars, driving bass and drums and excellent vocal work are the hallmarks of this latest Bleach album. The solid quality of the playing hints that these guys have got a lot in reserve, as there is little on show by way of feature solos. The sum of the parts is, however, well worth the listen! There are a couple of stonking guitar intros, most notably on the melodic and anthemic «Living» which was an immediate favourite and also the album’s opener «Get Up». What really sets the band apart is their consistently high-quality vocal work which, although unusual for such a hard-rocking band, is extremely effective (check out the Beach Boys influence on «Patience», another immediate favourite). The production is as solid as the playing, with little by way of overdubs or unusual effects and a few changes of pace give enough dynamic to retain interest levels. The overall sound is, I imagine, pretty much what you would get at a Bleach gig. I reckon this band could enjoy mainstream success if they tempered their playing towards a more melodic sound but I guess their fans won’t thank me for that observation. Interestingly the album is dedicated to Captain Josh Byers, their brother who was killed last year in the war with Iraq. As he was the band’s number one fan, this is a fitting tribute. [Willie Hamilton, Cross Rhythms, May 2004]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/astronomy/724514725)

CD tracklist:

01. Get Up – 3:10
02. December – 2:47
03. Plan To Pull Through – 3:40
04. Jaded Now – 4:40
05. Astronomy – 2:55
06. Living – 3:06
07. Nineteen – 3:34
08. Patience – 3:33
09. Breakthrough – 4:21
10. Tired Heart – 4:48
11. Moving On – 3:11