Song Review: Bastille Makes “Blame” Something To Want
I recently reviewed Bastille in Pandora Live, and was incredibly impressed. They gave an excellent show, and their music leaped off the stage as the much desired balance every artist seeks between personal and mass appeal. Their rocker sound can switch on the inner, intimate relationship we all have with “rule-bending” or become a massive “sing-along” session for you and your friends’ musings. Yet, “Blame” has to be their most guitar-heavy, mind-blazing track to date.
I loved “Blame” both in song and video. The irony is they do not, necessarily, correlate in vision. “Blame” According to Bastille’s lead vocalist, Dan Smith, “the song is about a dramatic stand off between two gangsters and nods to ‘American History X’ and ‘The Godfather”. Meanwhile, the video is eerie and enthralling like an episode of American Horror Story. Smith’s mouth sing’s from a silvery, black bowl that members, of a seeming religious cult, kiss to become possessed with some kind of spirit. With eyes appearing from a colorful wall and people becoming odd, contortions of themselves, the last thing you think of is “gangster vs gangster”. Yet, there is some type of bridge to be built if you think that a spiritual awakening is like confronting one’s inner “gangster”. Ultimately, the greatest connection between song and video is Dan Smith’s vocals and vision.
Smith sings like his voice has, literally, been put on a grill to have its juicy lyrics become smoked. Going heavier on the guitar’s melody was a brilliant move to drive up the dark edge of the song both vocally and visually. The track literally enters your mind and spirit as smoothing to be played when you wish to motivate yourself to face whatever you need, from an opposing team to a foe. I could definitely listen to this song before a basketball match or in the gym because, ultimately, blame is what we put on when we feel we have been stopped in a potential achievement. Yet, “Blame”, the song, is what you put on when you are ready to accomplish it. For More Information On Bastille Click Here.
