Review Summary: China's Brain Failure combine catchy punk rythms with ska underpinnings to create a unique blend of music that's put them at the forefront of the Chinese punk movement.
The 1949 Communist Revolution brought forth political instability and prompted a social backlash that would largely be felt by the Chinese people for years to come. The shadow cast by those troubling times has since seen a glimmer of light as China’s citizens currently enjoy stability and economic prosperity. Since embracing Western culture and its various trends, art and music is on the rise in the People’s Republic of China and a vibrant musical environment has unfolded.
Joining the ranks of first generation musicians to grow out of the Communist Revolution of the late 1940’s, the members of Brain Failure were quick to embrace punk rock music, its aesthetics and the sense of rebelliousness that came along with it. In doing so they’ve slicked up their mohawks and have become the front-runners for the Chinese punk movement. The band has released two studio albums and they’ve toured extensively in support of American Dreamer, their latest full length record, which was released back in April of 2005.
American Dreamer boasts 16 fist-pumping anthems with subject matter ranging from politics to partying. Intricate guitar work and booming bass lines compliment raspy, and at times, aggressive vocals. Mark Unseen lends his throat on one of the tracks while Ken Casey of the Dropkick Murphy’s helped produce the record and has since showered it with praise and optimism. In a past article with the Boston Globe, Casey elaborated on the recording of American Dreamer.
“I love their music…their musicianship is incredible, and the songs are very catchy. It's real interesting to see a band come out of a place where punk rock is very much underground, while over here it is so commercialized,” said Casey.
The record opens with “That's What I Know,” an upbeat number that appropriately showcases the bands intense passion and phenomenal playing abilities. Biting guitar licks and driving bass lines ensue and help to lay the framework for the rest of the album. Songs like “Give Me The Cash,” and “Such A Dangerous,” highlight the daily struggle of China’s youth while offering outsiders an inside glance of the politics and social issues affecting the band’s home country. “Fun And Fight Tonight” is an up-tempo number with a hopping bass line. The track is ripe with 90’s ska underpinnings and makes for a fun listen, while “Second Hand Pogo” delves into the life of one of the band members who owns a second-hand clothing shop appropriately dubbed ‘Pogo’.
It’s clear that groups like Rancid and the Clash serve as Brain Failures’ largest influences as the vocal styling and song arrangements on the record pay homage to the aforementioned bands. American Dreamer stands alone as a truly amazing record from start-to-finish with absolutely no filler to muck up the overall sound. This release will definitely have the mall punks stunned and it’ll leave the rest of us glued to our stereos.
