With the charts dominated by catchy pop stars, and the occasional indie group who has broken through to the mainstream, it is refreshing to listen to actual rock ‘n’ roll. Biffy Clyro, a Scottish band currently touring with Muse made it big in 2007 with the release of their album Puzzle, which went platinum in the UK. In 2009, their album Only Revolutions followed the same path. With six music awards and 15 nominations under their belt, Biffy Clyro released their sixth studio album early last month.
Boasting 20 tracks, Opposites, the band’s first #1 album, is an ambitious undertaking.
Simon Neil, lead vocalist and guitarist, elaborated on the album’s concept of duality in an interview with BBC Radio One.
“Each album is the exact opposite vibe to the other lyrically,” says Neil. “One’s about putting things in the worst possible way and thinking you’re getting yourself into a hole. The other looks at things more positively.”
Biffy Clyro is distinctively rock, characterized by a solid bass-line, deep melodies, and a vocal-centric full tenor. “Different People” (with wistful, heartfelt vocals), “Biblical” (exemplary of the band’s powerful sound), and “Spanish Radio” (with a playful Spanish guitar rhythm) are particularly good examples of the group’s musicianship. The two discs do have opposing vibes, and every song is well put together and interesting, although few are truly amazing stand-outs—while it is split over two discs, this arrangement may be excessive. A more compact, though still dual album would have left more of impression, and been more poignant, while still retaining the concept. Nevertheless, their position on the UK’s top 100 speaks for itself.
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