Composer Reacts to Black Country New Road - Opus (REACTION & ANALYSIS)

[@cheekycupcake5616]

Luuuv his gritty sorrowful voice, the wailing section is fierce, and ends beautifully. Great react🌿

[@CriticalReactions]

The vocals are sooo good in this. It's so worn down, broken. 100% sells the vibe of the track.

[@A-Sandstorm]

Wow I was really hoping you’d happen across this one eventually. Easily my favorite song of 2021. The return of that sax/violin line with the slower 4:3 feel at the climax of the song is so good it makes me sick

[@tjarlie6731]

yeaaah one of the best moments in music

[@skilledbros]

you definitely need to check out more from them

[@donalmaguire6099]

it's the last song from their 1st album, for the first time. both albums are amazing.

[@janeg6759]

I really liked this. It's the first I've heard them. so, will be checking them out more in the future.

[@WacekPlacek669]

That was great, need to check them out. It reminded me a lot of Balkan folk, this 'chaotic' part especially

[@rag4877]

2 of the members (the sax and violin) are in a klezmer band which makes a lot of sense

[@呼吸-e9b]

I miss the old intro, but I still like it. I love your work so much it taught me a lot about composition

[@wyburp7970]

Hel-loO, welcome to Critical Reaction, with your host, ... Bryan.

[@CriticalReactions]

The old one had better flow but I wanted to get the catchphrase/slogan/whatever the "critical/cynical" part in the intro. It's a work in progress though so maybe I'll land on something just as catchy as the original.

[@wyburp7970]

@@CriticalReactions tbh the new one aint the right one mate. it makes you sound bitter as if you were trying to call out someone.

[@CriticalReactions]

@@wyburp7970 I hadn't heard that until now but it's the pause followed by the lean into "not cynical" that 100% feels directed. Thanks for the feedback. I'll be playing around with stuff this week to keep it light, like it was.

[@wyburp7970]

@@CriticalReactions

[@BayouMaccabee]

Fantastic track from a great band! I've been really digging on BC,NR lately, so this reaction is rather timely for me. Well done, sir...and I appreciate the fine individual who initiated this reaction request. Kudos to all involved!

[@radiofoot1035]

I love this band so much, best band out now imo

[@jonathanhenderson9422]

Really interesting song. It's like post-punk/post-rock meets... well, a really active horn section! Really dig the way it establishes the moody tension early on and just builds and builds on it into those chaotic climaxes. If I had any negative criticism it would only be that I would've liked if maybe there was an additional section if just to have a breather from the rather relentless darkness, but I can also see why some would dig that.

[@jenniferchernichenko5377]

i think the charming the locals line refers to the fans romanticizing their music, when really the band is reliving those experiences by singing ab it, ie burning themselves. it was a coping mechanism that got out of hand, and yhe “clamp” might refer to the pressure of performing and some kind of band. also, i think your interpretation of “everybodies coming up” is wonderful, i never thought of it that way. the music was supposed to help them get better, they got worse, and isaac is watching everyone else succeed. I guess to me the song has to do with isaacs mental health, whereas everyone else in the band is doing good and thriving, and the fans want him to be depressed to make better music. Im not sure, thats just how i took it (as an avid lover of this song). I think musically, youre spot on! I loved listening to your reaction, yours are some of the best ive seen on KZbin

[@wyburp7970]

one theme i would love to see is "your best concept album".

[@progperljungman8218]

Such a gorgeous track. Leaning towards klezmer/balkan style but still it's own gem all togetger! Loved the analysis as well 😊

[@wyburp7970]

pretty sure their band name means : "hi we are about wierd stuff and not care about what you think'' rather than trying to wear the black country style shirt :P

[@progperljungman8218]

@@wyburp7970 Learnt the name was created through a word randomizer...

[@WacekPlacek669]

Klezmer! I thought about balkan first but after reading your comment and listening to it again klezmer seems more accurate.

[@arden9101]

@@progperljungman8218 it was a wikipedia random page iirc

[@arden9101]

@@WacekPlacek669 yeah, a couple of the band members come from a jewish background so it makes sense

[@chim-choo-ree]

A lot of Ihsahn's solo stuff features the saxophonist Jørgen Munkeby. I recommend the song "The Eagle and the Snake," which also has a great guitar solo from Jeff Loomis, who played in Nevermore.

[@wyburp7970]

Thanks that was nice, but your underestimate our boi ; he already reviewed that song

[@chim-choo-ree]

@@wyburp7970 Oh, damn. I only saw the Leprous reaction. I guess I'll go check that out. edit: He's done a bunch of great Ihsahn songs!

[@wyburp7970]

@@chim-choo-ree

[@progrockplaylists]

this is incredible. thank you for doing the talking for me

[@musiclover01ization]

I really liked this video. The song is quite good. I might check out other songs by Black Country New Road.

[@sagebooker]

some Klerzmer vibes... love the voice too.

[@alex11v3]

The saxofonist grew up hearing and playing Klerzmer music and the violonist plays it too, so you are on point my friend

[@sagebooker]

@@alex11v3 thanks for the info. Didn't know very well the band, worth to dig in

[@mrfrosty3]

Parts of it remind me of some of Michael Nyman's music for Peter Greenaway's films.

[@vishalkandulna3408]

Great song....but i think you already reacted to it on livestream.

[@CriticalReactions]

A quick search says I haven't but that isn't always indicative. I'm working on a better way to catalogue the livestream tracks so this doesn't happen.

[@vishalkandulna3408]

@@CriticalReactions you have reacted to live version of the song on your fifth livestream .

[@CriticalReactions]

@@vishalkandulna3408 Gotcha. Wow, that was a while ago 😅

[@vishalkandulna3408]

@@CriticalReactions yeah...i watched all your livestreams recently so i remember this song.