Shaun Mulrooney knows the fickle nature of the music industry. From the ‘Next Big Thing’ tag attached to him and his Humanzi band mates in the middle of the last decade with the release of their début album, to the muted reception afforded their sophomore effort. It doesn’t seem that experiences have soured his taste for scene though as he returns with Admiral Black and the album ‘Phantasmagoric’ (officially a side project).
Admiral Black’s Facebook page refers to the band as a ‘Psychedelic Frankenstein’. It’s not hard to see the truth in this. All musicians draw on their influences. Some (Interpol’s channelling of Joy Division, for example) wear their influences on their sleeve. Admiral Black seems to go a step further and seem to almost copy and paste sounds from its influence.
It doesn’t reach plagiarism levels, but almost every song has distinctive elements that sound like another group. There’s a sprinkling of Grinderman here, a dash of Black Lips there and bucketfuls of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club everywhere.
And while there is no unique sound to this album, there are far worse bands Admiral Black could sound like. The songs are good too. Opener ‘Such A Nice Man’ is an excellent track. It sounds like a song Nick Cave wrote for The Bad Seeds, but decided to perform with Grinderman. ‘Closure’ seems like a reinterpretation of ‘Make it Wit Chu’ by Queens of the Stone Age where ‘Shock Corridors’ has a B-52s’ ‘Rock Lobster’ vibe to it. ‘Something Dark’ could fit on a Black Rebel Motorcycle Club album without anyone raising an eyebrow.
However there is something lacking. A unique sound isn’t necessary, but something a little different would distinguish this album better. It’s also true that a collection of good songs does not necessarily make a good album. So, unfortunately, this album proves. There is a lack of flow to the piece and a shortage of light and shade to really engage the listener for the course of the 10 tracks. Perhaps if Admiral Black finds its own voice in the future, it will find a great album.