The Bell - Make some quiet
(Badman Recording Co.)

Reminiscent of Matt Skiba's Heavens side project, The Bell move through that well explored terrain of 80s throwback music with a similar approach. A collection of well crafted pop songs punctuated by a digital drummer, with plenty of hooks and clever electronic touches, "Make some quiet" is nothing groundbreaking, but is a surprisingly strong and entertaining album. "Nothing is logical" is everything a nostalgic pop song should be - a threaded assortment of pop sensibility and craftsmanship that exudes hope while simultaneously hinting at the faintest shade of melancholy and sadness that made 80s groups like The Cure and Echo and the Bunnymen so powerful. A solid, engaging record that is worth its retail price - just don't expect any new territory to be explored.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson