This came out in 2005 — or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
“All I want is everything,” sings Sam Endicott of The Bravery. Sure, he’s borrowing a line from Southside Johnny. Even so, it looks like he might get his wish.
This New York quintet are one of this year’s biggest buzz bands, and after getting acquainted with their self-titled debut full-length — and catching a live set at South by Southwest this year — I can tell you it might not be wise to bet against them. Endicott possesses a wounded yelp and wry wit reminiscent of The Cure’s Robert Smith. His bandmatest deftly toe the line between dance and rock with their disco beats, retro-synths, spiky guitars and love of reverb. And on this aggressively commercial 11-cut outing, they consistently combine them into insanely catchy, irresistibly groovy and instantly familiar post-punk tracks like An Honest Mistake, Fearless, Out Of Line and Public Service Announcement. Plus, with their leather jackets, eyeliner and bedhead coifs, they’ve got the looks to go with the hooks. If that isn’t everything they need to be this year’s Franz Ferdinand, I can’t imagine what would be.
