Music review: Bush – 鈥楤lack and White Rainbows鈥�
Led by the gritty beauty of songs like 鈥淓verything Zen,鈥� 鈥淐omedown鈥� and 鈥淕lycerine,鈥� Bush鈥檚 1994 grunge-rock debut 鈥淪ixteen Stone鈥� instantly won me over as a fan.
鈥淏lack and White Rainbows鈥� is the British band鈥檚 seventh studio release and the impressive follow-up to 2014鈥檚 鈥淢an on the Run.鈥�
Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale handles the writing and production of the new tracks that are propelled by his distinctive vocals in a manner that results in nothing short of musical grandeur.
The 51-year-old Rossdale delivers engaging arrangements that deal with coping in a turbulent world and finding little pieces of color in an otherwise black-and-white landscape.
鈥淭hese are delicate days,鈥� declares Rossdale on 鈥淪ky Turns Day Glo鈥� as he examines the numerous environmental concerns that can no longer be pushed aside and ignored.
鈥淒ystopia鈥� continues the dark undertones of living in chaos while seeking some sense of security and order in a divided world where everything you know seems broken.
Rossdale offers hope on a number of tracks that highlight love, encouragement and perseverance.
The album鈥檚 first single, 鈥淢ad Love,鈥� is a melodic love song about finding ways to keep love alive and strong.
鈥淟ost in You鈥� describes the soothing memories of a past love and how it continues to provide elements of comfort and security.
鈥淚 put my faith in love,鈥� sings Rossdale on 鈥淭oma Mi Corazon,鈥� even breaking into some Spanish on the track that spotlights love at first sight.
鈥淲ater鈥� is an inspiring number that encourages us to strive to lift each other up and make a difference in this world with Rosedale singing, 鈥淏reathe life into dead things/Breathe life into beauty.鈥�
鈥淚 never thought I鈥檇 see your face again,鈥� proclaims Rossdale on the intoxicating 鈥淭he Edge of Love鈥� as a faded love tries to be rekindled and saved.
Make no mistake, the alt-rockers can still rock it out with grinding guitar chords that recklessly escort Rossdale鈥檚 still-strong voice as witnessed on songs like 鈥淩avens,鈥� 鈥淧eace-S鈥� and 鈥淣urse.鈥�
鈥淧eople at War鈥� closes out the 15-track set with a powerful and poignant message that addresses the plight of refugees and the trials they go through as they are forced to leave their homeland in search of safety in unfamiliar lands.
鈥淏lack and White Rainbows鈥� is a solid effort that proves that after 25 years, Bush still has plenty of gas left in the tank.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.