207) Buffalo Tom - Birdbrain

As we have established in my teens, I knew everything about music. Yes, everything and to be clear I thought Grant Lee Buffalo and Buffalo Tom were the same band, see its that kind of expertise that made me decide to write these reviews.

We have already had two reviews of the excellent Grant Lee Buffalo so now its Buffalo Tom’s moment and again we have a request where I have not heard a note by this band. To be clear the fifty odd year old me realises I know nothing and have long accepted I never will.

All three members have been in the band since they formed in 1986 with a solid respectable nine studio albums released.

Birdbrain was their second record released in 1990 (I should have known it I was nineteen) and J Mascis, like their debut, co-produced.

You may have noticed that my penchant is for guitars and lots of drums, I appreciate other music, but guitar and drums can win me over quick so the opener, and title track that rattles along from the start has me. Skeleton Key has a bit more space as does the equally effective and majestic Enemy.

Drummer Tom Maginnis must be one of the most powerful men in the world the way he hits those drums and the bass on Caress is solid and underpins the song.

The Dinosaur Jnr comparisons are obvious, but Bob Mould must smile if he has ever heard this record as Husker Du are clearly a major influence and I won’t be the first or last to notice (nice mention of New Day Rising on Baby). His band Sugar also had a song called Fortune Teller so maybe he was listening, that’s two songs with this title that are good.

I love the thrash of Directive; you can’t beat a good riff.

Buffalo Tom are not Grant Lee Buffalo they are their own band, and they deserve a listen, very enjoyable.

6.5/10

GIVE IT A STREAM: Enemy