'Rebel music from musicians not 'own'

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, whose name spurs from the Marlon Brando/Lee Marvin '50s biker pic, The Wild One, seems to have come into its own with Take Them On, On Your Own -- the band's second album. Many of my contemporaries wrote B.R.M.C. off as nothing more than a bunch of Jesus and Mary Chain rip-offs following its self-titled debut three years ago. Having never heard that record, I can't really speculate. I do, however, know a thing or two about the Jesus and Mary Chain, and Take Them On, On Your Own sounds little if nothing like them. It is very much the work of a singular group of artists, albeit ones with varied tastes and influences.\n"Six Barrel Shotgun" is one of the coolest-titled and sounding rave-ups I've heard in sometime. "And I'm Aching" is without a doubt the best song on the album -- a stripped-down lamentation of lost love. B.R.M.C. are heavily dependent on distortion (as is in vogue right now with many a modern rock act), sometimes it's beneficial ("U.S. Government") and other times damning (most notably "Heart + Soul," amongst others). Despite some snags, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club seem ready to "Take On" most comers.