Butcher Babies: Uncovered EP

I've commented on the Butcher Babies elsewhere (see my review of the 2014 Revolver Golden Gods tour). Even though the band gets a lot of negative press, they still get a lot of press. They are also on a lot of tours. Many readers will eventually have the chance to see them on the road at some point. The exposure may do the band some good, even though right now most people are fixated on questions concerning the band's authenticity, their talent, and their motives.

I don't want to address all these questions, nor do I want to write a long review of a very short EP. As I mentioned above, Butcher Babies are generating lots of attention, both for their music and for their appearance. As most readers already know, the two female leads, Heidi Sheperd and Carla Harvey, used to perform wearing nothing on their upper bodies but nipple tape. Over the last couple of years, the tape has been replaced with slightly more modest clothing, as if trying to get past the former controversy. Nevertheless, the spotlight remains fixed on the two female leads, what they're wearing, what they're doing, and how they're acting. Having seen the band twice, I can say that there is much more to the band than sex appeal, but I doubt anyone will believe me. This is a band that's hard to defend, at least in some circles.

Ultimately, we have to face the question of quality honestly: Is this band really any good? The answer is not an easy one to give, even when you consider that taste is largely subjective. To me, the Butcher Babies are a decent band, not a great band. I like the band well enough in a live setting, but I don't think the music is all that great. They write good enough songs, but none of them are very memorable. Still, they play them with passion and admirable amounts of energy. The biggest problem, for me, is that the music consistently tries to push readers away with jagged rhythms, blood-curdling screams, and repetitive riffs. The music sticks to simple patterns and does not explore musical possibilities. To me, they are settings for performance and for bravado, little more. Still, with the constant touring, media appearances, and new music, the band should stick around for a while. Why not? The audiences seem to be there even though nobody admits to being a die-hard fan.

With this EP, the band covers five songs from several places. "Crazy Horses," originally performed by the Osmonds and probably their heaviest song to date, is pretty good. Heidi Sheperd is from Utah and knew about the Osmonds as a young girl. It turns out that other bands have covered "Crazy Horses," but the Butcher Babies make it their own pretty well. The other tracks good in places. "They're Coming to Take Me Away" goes on for too long, as does "Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers," a party anthem that seems out of place for this band. The worst track is "Pussy Whipped." The band plays it too fast and it sounds like they are trying to thrash without quite hitting the right groove.

I mentioned above that I've seen Butcher Babies twice. They tour a lot and will certainly be on a bill for a tour that many readers will want to catch. I am willing to defend them on the grounds that they play energetic sets with some decent songs. They aren't going to gain hordes of new fans with this release, but it will give them more songs to play and more reason to stay in the media.

See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!

Track Listing:
1. Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers
2. They're Coming to Take Me Away
3. Don't Give a Fuck
4. Crazy Horses
5. Pussy Whipped

Added: December 3rd 2014
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 1910
Language: english

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